Alcohol Use and Athletic/Academic Related Consequences Among College Student-Athletes

Introduction: Over 500,000 student-athletes, who compete in college-level athletics each year, are susceptible to the same physical, cognitive, and social consequences of alcohol and other drug use as their non-athlete peers. This is exacerbated by the demands intercollegiate sports place on student-athletes. Sufficient literature suggests a relationship between substance use and psychosocial consequences; yet, the potential association between substance use and athletic and academic performance receives less attention. This study examines the extent alcohol consumption and frequency of getting drunk predicts negative sport and academic-related consequences.

Methods: Participants were first-year student-athletes from 18 American universities who reported some alcohol and/or other drug use in their lifetime (n = 950; 52.5% female), quantity of alcohol use, frequency of alcohol use, and negative athletic and academic consequences. Data are drawn from surveys completed immediately before accessing a web-based alcohol and other drug prevention program.

Results: Results from logistic regression suggest moderate drinkers were 1.7 times more likely to perform poorly on a test, twice as likely to miss a class (OR=1.95, p = .026) and feel tired in a practice or game (OR= 1.85, p = .019), than light drinkers. Heavy drinkers were three times more likely to perform poorly on a test (OR = 2.90, p ≤ .001), miss a class (OR = 3.05, p ≤ .001), and 3.5 times as likely to perform poorly in a practice or game (OR = 3.41, p ≤ .001) than light drinkers. Heavy drinkers were 4.5 times as likely as light drinkers to feel tired in a practice or game (OR = 4.57, p ≤ .001). Those getting drunk 1 to 2 times (past 30 days) were two times more likely to miss a class (OR = 1.98, p = .006), feel tired in a practice or game (OR = 2.46, p ≤ .001), and perform poorly in a practice or game (OR = 1.96, p =.004) than the never drunk group. Those getting drunk 3 to 4 times (past 30 days) were more likely to perform poorly on a test (OR = 2.38, p =.005), miss a class (OR = 2.89, p = .001), or feel tired in a practice or game (OR = 2.23, p =.005) than the never drunk group. Those getting drunk ≥5 times (past 30 days) were three times as likely to miss a class (OR = 2.49, p ≤.001), perform poorly on a test (OR = 3.25, p = <.001), or perform poorly in a practice or game (OR = 2.78, p =.001) and five times more likely to feel tired in a practice or game (OR = 5.21, p≤.001) than the never drunk group.

Conclusions: A number of significant relationships between quantity and frequency of alcohol use and negative consequences related to athletic and academic performance among college student-athletes were uncovered. Findings suggest drinking in amounts that are often considered “moderate” may not be protective when considering athletic or academic performance and related prevention messages should be well-thought-out prior to intervention development.