Much research has shown a large number of college students consume at least one alcoholic drink over a months’ time. Valued living is a behavioral process that is associated with resilience among college students. Previous research has not focused on alcohol use and valued living. The current study looks at nightly alcohol use and next-day valued living.
Participants included 73 students who were from a southeastern public university. Daily measures were assessed through surveys sent to students in the evening for 14 days. Alcohol use disorders was assessed using the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT). Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Depression anxiety stress scales-21 (DASS-21). Daily measures included alcohol use and valuing questionnaire. Participants reported past-evening alcohol consumption along with number of daily drinks consumed. The valuing questionnaire assessed well-being with higher scores indicative of students living in accordance with their values.
Participants were 66% female with average age of 18.6 years. 22 students reported alcohol use at or above the cutoff for hazardous drinking and 15 students reported never drinking. 32 participants reported no drinking during the 14 day study and participants consumed an average of 0.82 nightly drinks and 0.44 daily drinks. After controlling for variables, it was found that increased within-participant alcohol use the night before was correlated with a decrease in valued living the next day. Results also showed that compared the participants average, each alcoholic drink increase was related to lower scores for valued living the following day. These findings demonstrate individual variability in alcohol use and valued behaviors. Also, educating college students on alcohol use and decreased valued living may prove to be a beneficial part of prevention and interventions.
Take-Away: Valued living is a behavioral process that is associated with resilience among college students. The current study looks at nightly alcohol use and next-day valued living in 73 students over 14 days. Measures included alcohol use disorders, depression and anxiety, daily alcohol use, valued living, past-evening alcohol consumption, and number of daily drinks consumed. 32 participants reported no drinking during the 14 day study and participants consumed an average of 0.82 nightly drinks and 0.44 daily drinks. After controlling for variables, it was found increased within-participant alcohol use the night before was correlated with a decrease in valued living the next day. Results also showed that compared the participants average, each alcoholic drink increase was related to lower scores for valued living the following day. Educating college students on alcohol use and decreased valued living may prove to be a beneficial part of prevention and interventions.