High-intensity drinking (HID) is a common problem among young adults that involves consuming 8-10+ drinks during a single event. Around 15% of young adults report HID and it can lead to a variety of negative physical and social consequences. Environment plays a role in alcohol use behaviors with alcohol use occurring more frequently in social settings rather than in isolation. Social and situational characteristics of the drinking event may also influence alcohol consumption among young adults. This study examines the social and physical contexts of both the first and last drink consumed among college students during a drinking event.
The study’s sample consisted of 341 college students from three large state universities. Participants completed daily surveys administered in two 28-day bursts. The participants were prompted with surveys five times daily and an average of 3.75 surveys per day were completed by each participant. Respondents were asked to report the physical and social context surrounding drinking events. Participants were also asked to report the time at which each drink was consumed during a drinking event. Level of drinking was defined as: moderate (1-3/1-4 drinks for women/men), heavy episodic drinking (HED, 4-7/5-9), or high-intensity drinking (HID, 8+/10+). Data was analyzed using generalized linear mixed-effects models (GLMMs).
Results of the data analysis showed that the participant’s home was the most common physical context described across all levels of drinking day and for both first and last drink except for last drink on HID drinking days. Regarding social context, being with friends and roommates was highly endorsed across all levels of drinking and for both first and last drink. Being at a party was more common on HED and HID days than on moderate drinking days. The models indicated that being at a party or at a friend’s house and being with strangers at time of last drink were associated with HID compared to HED. Being at home or with family at time of last drink was associated with a decreased risk of HID. No social or physical context at time of first drink was related to risk of HID compared to HED.
Takeaway: Social and physical contexts may be correlated with high-intensity drinking events among college students.