Longitudinal relations between physical activity and alcohol consumption among young adults

Recent research has revealed positive associations between alcohol use and physical activity. However, findings from these studies have been inconsistent, and longitudinal designs have been underutilized. Therefore, the present study examined longitudinal associations between physical activity and alcohol use in a sample of young adults.

This study is a secondary analysis of 383 college students (57% female) who reported their drinking behaviors at 3-month assessments over an approximately 2-year period. Self-reported physical activity was examined for the first 9 months, and drinking was assessed over 21 months.

Analyses revealed that increases in the intensity of physical activity over the first 9 months predicted increases in drinking over the same time period; however, predictions over the subsequent year were nonsignificant. Conversely, increases in alcohol use over the first 9 months were associated with concurrent increases in duration of physical activity.

Results extend previous cross-sectional research findings by indicating that positive associations between physical activity and alcohol use also are found longitudinally. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).