Latent profiles of alcohol use and differences in risk perceptions of alcohol use among college students

Objective: To identify latent profiles of alcohol use among college students of legal drinking age and to examine how perceived risk of binge drinking differs across these profiles. Participants: A total of 340 college students aged 21 or older, drawn from the 2022-2023 Healthy Minds Study. Methods: Latent profile analysis (LPA) was applied to the 10 items of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), which assesses consumption, dependence symptoms, and alcohol-related problems. Multinomial logistic regression then examined differences in perceived risk of binge drinking across the identified profiles. Results: Three profiles emerged: Non-Drinkers, Low-Risk Drinkers, and High-Risk Drinkers. Non-Drinkers were significantly less likely than High-Risk Drinkers to perceive slight risk (OR = 0.12) or moderate risk (OR = 0.21) rather than great risk, whereas Low-Risk and High-Risk Drinkers did not differ. Conclusions: Perceived risk distinguished non-drinkers from drinkers but not the two drinking groups from each other, suggesting that risk awareness alone is unlikely to reach the highest-risk students. Findings underscore the need for tailored, binge-focused prevention strategies.