Previous research has established that poor sleep quality and insufficient sleep time modify the relationship between college drinking and negative drinking consequences. A recent study investigated associations between risky drinking and negative drinking consequences with sleep-related functional impairment, which includes daytime consequences of poor sleep such as irritability, sleepiness, and difficulty concentrating and socializing.
This study included 157 college drinkers who were surveyed over 2 months through questionnaires assessing their sleep patterns and quality as well as alcohol use and related consequences. The results of these surveys showed that students with less signs of sleep-related functional impairment had more frequent negative drinking consequences only when they were engaged in high levels of risky drinking. Those with high levels of sleep-related impairment also experienced high levels of negative alcohol-related consequences, regardless of the levels of risky drinking behaviors.
These findings indicate that symptoms of sleep related functional impairment might intensify negative drinking consequences from all levels of risky drinking.
Take Away: Sleep-related functional impairment can intensify negative alcohol consequences as a result of risky drinking in college students.