Alcohol consumption damages the lives of college students at alarming rates, creating an increased demand for alcohol-use-related treatment programs in these populations. The physical and psychological effects of regular misuse contribute to the negative consequences students may face in their academic and social lives. In efforts to attenuate dangerous drinking, universities may often incorporate preventative approaches in their public health models. Identifying at-risk individuals has been suggested to aid in this effort. Many traits are thought to contribute towards alcohol use in students including those related to family history, general psychological health, and environmental factors. This study aims to determine the role, if any, that personal temperament may contribute towards college student drinking.
The study’s sample consists of 696 students from Florida International University in Miami, Florida, who were currently enrolled in psychology courses and aged 18-25 years old at the time of participation. After volunteering and verifying informed consent, participants completed surveys which assessed the following measures: demographics, alcohol use (via the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test), temperament (via the Adult Temperament Questionnaire), depression symptoms (via the Beck Depression Inventory), and anxiety symptoms (via the Beck Anxiety inventory). Participant scores for alcohol consumption were categorized and compared as being hazardous or non-hazardous, in addition to binge or non-binge drinking. Data analysis was performed using analysis of variance and linear regression models.
Results of the analysis found students classified as hazardous drinkers had overall greater positive affects scores than those classified as non-hazardous drinkers (p<0.001). When comparing students based upon binge and non-binge drinker designations, a similar relationship was found as binge drinkers were noted to have higher positive affect scores than those of non-binge drinkers (p<0.001). Greater effortful control was reported in non-hazardous and non-binge drinking groups when compared to their respective counterparts (p=0.001). no relationship was found concerning negative affect and alcohol use patterns.
Takeaway: positive affect is suggested to be associated with hazardous alcohol consumption and binge-drinking behaviors in college students, while effortful control may be considered a protective factor in this population. Additional research is needed to investigate individual mood-based traits as they relate to drinking in university populations.