Event-Specific Drinking and Protective Behavioral Strategy Use among College Students

Area of Science:

• Alcohol research
• Public health
• College student behavior

Background:

• Event-specific drinking occasions are linked to heavy drinking and negative consequences in college students.
• Prior research has not fully explored understudied holidays and changes in protective strategies during these times.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine alcohol use, negative consequences, and protective behavioral strategy use across various event-specific drinking occasions.
• To identify differences in risk and harm reduction during holidays compared to non-holiday periods.

Main Methods:

• 537 college students (18-24 years) retrospectively reported drinking behaviors over 14 days.
• Assessed alcohol use, negative consequences, and protective strategies for 10 event-specific occasions versus a no-holiday reference.
• Used Analysis of Covariance models to compare outcomes.

Main Results:

• Holidays like Labor Day and MLK Day were linked to increased alcohol use, negative consequences, and protective strategy use.
• Other holidays (e.g., Veterans Day) showed lower risk and less strategy use.
• Spring break did not follow a clear risk pattern.

Conclusions:

• College students' alcohol-related behaviors and strategy use fluctuate significantly across different event-specific drinking occasions.
• Identifying high-risk holidays and those with low harm reduction is crucial for targeted prevention and intervention efforts.