Alcohol Use among College Athletes: Do Intercollegiate, Club, or Intramural Student Athletes Drink Differently?. (23rd February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barry, Adam E; Howell, Steven M; Riplinger, Adam; Piazza-Gardner, Anna K
• Is Part Of: Substance use & misuse. Volume 50:Number 3(2015)
• Page Start: 302
• Page End: 307
• Publication Date: 2015-02-23
• Subjects: Alcohol -- College student -- Athlete -- Intramural -- Varsity -- Intercollegiate; Narcotic habit -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Behavior, Addictive -- Periodicals; Sustance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.3109/10826084.2014.977398
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1082-6084

Abstract

Abstract : Background : Varsity student athletes are a high-risk drinking group, exhibiting a greater propensity to binge drink than their non-sport peers. Moreover, as intercollegiate athletic involvement increases, so too does alcohol consumption. There is little research, however, which examines drinking behaviors of students who participate in nonvarsity athletics. Objectives : Identify differences in alcohol-related behaviors and associated consequences among U.S. varsity, club, and intramural athletes, and nonathlete college students. Methods : Secondary data analysis of the 2011 National College Health Assessment ( n = 29, 939). Results : Intramural athletes binge drank more frequently ( M = 1.1, SD = 1.7) than club athletes ( M = 1.0, SD = 1.6), intercollegiate athletes ( M = 0.9, SD = 1.5), and nonathletes ( M = 0.6, SD = 1.3) and also experienced greater alcohol-related consequences. Intramural athletes consumed the most during their last drinking episode ( M = 4.1, SD = 4.0) and reached the highest blood alcohol concentration (BAC) ( M = 0.062, SD = 0.09).Compared to club and varsity athletes [ M = 0.8, SD = 1.4; t (8, 131) = −9.6, p < .001], intramural-only athletes reported binge drinking significantly more frequently ( M = 1.2, SD = 1.7) and also reached significantly higher BACs during most recent drinking episode ( M = 0.064, SD = 0.08) than organized sport athletes [ M = 0.057, SD = 0.08; t (8, 050) = −3.0, p = .003]. Conclusions : Intramural athletes represent a higher-risk drinking group than other athlete and nonathlete college students. Future research should investigate factors contributing to drinking differences among different athlete groups.