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Concurrent and prospective screening for problem drinking among college students
M J Werner1, L S Walker, J W Greene
1Division of Adolescent Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Summary
A composite screening measure combining the CAGE questionnaire, Perceived Benefit of Drinking Scale (PBDS), tobacco use, and best friend
Area of Science:
- Addiction research
- Adolescent psychology
- Public health
Background:
- Problem drinking is a significant concern among college students.
- Previous research indicates a composite screening measure may be effective.
- This study prospectively evaluates such a measure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the predictive validity of a composite screening measure for problem drinking in late adolescents.
- To evaluate the measure's ability to predict alcohol use and related problems over 3 years of college.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study of 452 college freshmen was conducted.
- Participants completed questionnaires on alcohol use, CAGE, PBDS, tobacco use, and friend's drinking.
- Follow-up measures were taken 32 months later.
Main Results:
- The composite measure explained 33-37% of variance in alcohol use/problems at college entry.
- It predicted high-risk drinking with 73% sensitivity and 70% specificity.
- The measure demonstrated better predictive accuracy than individual components alone.
Conclusions:
- The composite screening measure is a consistent and valid predictor of problem drinking in college students.
- It effectively identifies current and future risk for alcohol-related issues.
- This tool offers a promising approach for early intervention and prevention strategies.