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Understanding binge drinking: introduction to the special issue
1Department of Psychology and Center for Health and Behavior, Syracuse University, New York 13244-4123, USA. kbcarcy@syr.edu
Summary
This special issue explores binge drinking, examining its scientific validity and use as a risk marker. It presents research on causes, consequences, and interventions for binge drinking behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
- Psychology
Background:
- This special issue addresses the growing scientific, public policy, and educational interest in binge drinking.
- It features state-of-the-science conceptualizations and empirical research on binge drinking patterns.
Discussion:
- The issue includes invited articles and empirical studies using diverse designs like experimental, correlational, and longitudinal.
- It critically evaluates the construct validity of binge drinking and its effectiveness as a high-risk marker.
- The introductory article weighs the pros and cons of the term 'binge drinking' and proposes alternatives.
Key Insights:
- Research presented spans the course and correlates of binge drinking.
- Controlled intervention trials are included to assess treatment efficacy.
- The utility of binge drinking as a marker in theory testing and intervention is examined.
Outlook:
- Future research directions are implied by the presented empirical work.
- The discussion on terminology may influence future research and applied contexts.
- This collection provides a comprehensive overview of current binge drinking research.