College student hazardous drinking (HD) is defined as heavy drinking and experiencing alcohol-related problems. HD is risky and expensive but is temporary for most students. Most transition out of HD without treatment after they leave college. Previous literature links the fallout of HD after graduation with the decline in how much individuals associate themselves with drinking. This study aims to evaluate clinically relevant distress as a potential moderator. This study was a secondary investigation using data from a previous longitudinal study of graduating college seniors who had met HD criteria.
This study uses the same sample from the previous longitudinal study. The eligibility criteria included graduating college within the next six months, a score of 8 or higher on the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT), between 18-25, and English fluency. The study measured drinking identity via the drinking identity Implicit Association Test. Mood-related symptoms, such as depression, anxiety, and stress, were measured, as well as students’ weekly alcohol consumption and negative alcohol-related consequences.
The results of this study showed that, overall, most of the sample reduced HD during the post-college transition. Still, individuals who had both stronger implicit drinking identities and experienced more distress were more likely to continue drinking heavily and continued alcohol-related problems after college. This suggests that interventions and prevention efforts should be targeted to soon-to-graduates with stronger drinking identity and more distress symptoms in hopes of helping these individuals with their transient out-of-HD post-college.
Takeaway: Individuals who had both stronger implicit drinking identity and experienced more distress were more likely to continue drinking heavily and continued alcohol-related problems after college.