Alcohol use is typically highest among young adults and binge-drinking increases from age 18-22 years. Understanding trajectories for drinking is important for understanding characteristics of high-risk young adults. The current study looks at trajectories for drinking and binge drinking across the socioecological framework.
The current study pulled data from Project DECOY which was a 2-year longitudinal study with 3,418 students. Participants first indicated their age of first alcohol use along with use during the previous 4 months and binge drinking. They were also asked about first cigarette and marijuana use. Sociodemographic data was collected during the first wave along with depressive symptoms and ADHD symptoms at wave 2. Adverse childhood experiences and social support were assessed at wave 2 while parental substance use and school setting were assessed at wave 1. School setting included private, public, HBCU, or technical college along with whether the school was in a rural or urban setting.
The final study included 3,380 students at the first wave and 2,401 students at wave 6. Results showed alcohol use increased over the study. Predictors of alcohol use were White, higher parental education, greater social support, parental alcohol use, private institutions, and rural settings. Binge drinkers were classified as Dabblers (90%), Slow decelerators (7%), Accelerators (2%), and Fast decelerators (1%). Predictors of binge drinking were older age, being a sexual minority, greater ADHD symptoms, early-onset use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana, parental alcohol use, attending private institutions, and rural setting. These findings show intervention efforts may benefit from targeting those found to be most likely to drink.
Take Away: The current study looks at trajectories for drinking and binge drinking across the socioecological framework. The current study pulled data from Project DECOY which was a 2-year longitudinal study. Measures included age of first substance use, alcohol use during the previous 4 months, sociodemographic data, mental health symptoms, childhood experiences, social support, parental substance use, and school setting. The final study included 3,380 students at the first wave and 2,401 students at wave 6. Results showed that alcohol use increased over the study. Predictors of alcohol use were White, higher parental education, greater social support, parental alcohol use, private institutions, and rural settings. Predictors of binge drinking were older age, being a sexual minority, greater ADHD symptoms, early-onset use of alcohol, cigarettes, and marijuana, parental alcohol use, attending private institutions, and rural setting. These findings show that intervention efforts by benefit from targeting those most likely to drink.