Graduating with an alcohol problem? Associations between drinking, willingness to experience consequences, protective behavioral strategies, and repeated alcohol problems across the senior year of college.

Abstract

Objective: Research shows a high proportion of college seniors experience alcohol problems repeatedly. The present study examined associations between behavioral willingness to experience alcohol consequences (BW), protective behavioral strategies to reduce harmful drinking (PBS), drinking, and repeated alcohol problems (RAPs) early in the senior year, and how these constructs influenced BW, PBS, drinking, and RAPs later in the senior year.

Method: The sample included randomly selected first year students from a large northeastern university that met the inclusion criterion of consuming alcohol prior to enrollment. Students were followed each semester across 4 years. The study (N = 1,753; 58% female) focused on the assessments in the fall (T1) and spring (T2) semesters of their senior year (mean age = 21). A longitudinal path model examined associations among BW, PBS, drinking, and RAPs at both waves.

Results: BW, drinking, and PBS had direct, concurrent associations with RAPs at T1 and T2. The nature of the associations was positive for BW and drinking and negative for PBS. Prospective analyses revealed significant independent, positive associations between T1 RAPs and T2 BW, drinking, and RAPs, while a negative independent association between T1 RAPs and PBS was observed at T2.

Conclusions: Findings show evidence for a cycle of alcohol use behavior between BW, drinking, and RAPs. Based on the findings, interventions targeting college seniors seem warranted to reduce developing further alcohol problems in adulthood.