Alcohol use and tobacco consumption remains a major health concern among college students throughout the United States. Previous reports have found that more than 50% of students age 18-22 report using alcohol in the previous month. The current study looks at associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)and excessive alcohol consumption along with ACEs and tobacco exposure among US college students.
14,464 students were sent invitations to participate in this online study with a final sample size of 568 students. Alcohol and tobacco exposure were measured by looking at health behaviors associated with primary and secondary diseases which included tobacco and alcohol exposure. Alcohol consumption was assessed by looking at how many drinks the participant has in one setting along with average days per week they drink. Tobacco exposure was assessed by looking at personal use along with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. The Adverse Childhood Experiences-International Questionnaire assessed prevalence of ACEs. Questions were asked about things surrounding family environment such as physical abuse and contact sexual abuse. The last variable assessed was a person’s ability to recover from a stressful situation.
Results showed that 36% of the study population reported poor emotional health, 39% reported any alcohol consumption, and 29% reported tobacco exposure. Highest resilience levels were found to be associated with mild ACE exposure, but mean resilience didn’t differ between ACE exposure groups. Tobacco exposure was not found to differ between ACE categories. Tobacco exposure was found to increase odds of excess alcohol consumption by around 250%. Moderate ACEs increased odds of tobacco exposure by 227% and resilience did not seem to effect substance use. Overall, these findings show childhood adversity is a significant predictor of tobacco exposure and resilience does not buffer this effect.
Take Away: The current study looks at associations between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs)and excessive alcohol consumption along with ACEs and tobacco exposure among US college students. The final study included 568 students and measures included tobacco and alcohol exposure, alcohol and tobacco use, prevalence of ACEs, and resilience. Results showed 36% of the study population reported poor emotional health, 39% reported any alcohol consumption, and 29% reported tobacco exposure. Moderate ACEs increased odds of tobacco exposure by 227% and resilience did not seem to effect substance use. Overall, these findings show childhood adversity is a significant predictor of tobacco exposure and resilience does not buffer this effect.
Krinner, L. M., Warren-Findlow, J., & Bowling, J. (2020). Examining the Role of Childhood Adversity on Excess Alcohol Intake and Tobacco Exposure among US College Students. Substance Use & Misuse, 55(13), 2087–2098. https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2020.1790009