Alcohol Use Among Emerging Adults: Effects of School, Work, and Residence in the First Year after High School

Previous research has identified the first year of college as risky for problematic alcohol use. Few studies have included young adults who are not in school or who attend community college or technical school. Using data from the NEXT Generations Study, a national cohort recruited from US high schools in 10^thgrade (2009-10 school year), self-reported 30-day alcohol use (any/none) and binge drinking (5+ (boys)/4+ (girls) drinks per occasion) were analyzed in relation to place of residence, school attendance, and work hours during the first year post high school (2013) using logistic regression. Residence (living at home with parents/guardians, on own, or in campus housing including dormitories and Greek houses), school status (not attending, community college/technical school, 4-year college) and work hours (none, < 20 hours, < 20 hours, 31+ hours) were examined in separate models, as well as jointly. All models were adjusted for design variables, gender, race/ethnicity, and previous year drinking; odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) are reported.

Participants (n=2051) were 60% (weighted) female, 62% white, 14% African American, and 19% Hispanic. More than half (53%) reported any alcohol use and 27% reported binging in the last 30 days. Most were in school, with 44% attending a 4-year college, 28% community college or technical school and 28% not attending school. Regarding residence and work hours, 56% resided at home, 16% on their own, 28% lived in campus housing, 47% were not employed, 22% worked < 20 hours, 14% worked 20-30 hours, and 17% worked 31+ hours.

Significant associations were found for school status and residence, but not for work status. Compared to those not attending school, those attending a 4-year college were more likely to drink alcohol (OR=2.4, CI=1.7–3.5), and to binge (OR=1.6, CI=1.0-2.6). Compared to those living at home, those living on campus were more likely to drink (OR=2.8, CI = 1.7-4.3) and to binge (OR=2.9, CI 1.9-4.5). In models that included both school status and residence, both remained significantly associated with an increased probability of alcohol use (4-year college vs not attending, OR=1.6, CI=1.0-2.3; on campus vs home, OR=2.2, CI=1.3-3.6). For binge drinking, only the coefficient for 4-year college vs not attending remained significant, (OR=3.4, CI 1.7-6.9).

The findings are consistent with previous research and indicate that drinking among students at 4-year colleges continues to be a public health concern despite 20 years of prevention efforts. Unlike living on campus, living outside of the parent’s home but not on campus did not increase risk of alcohol use or binge drinking, regardless of school status, implicating the social environment of campus life in problematic drinking.