An Examination of the Consequences of Alcohol Use Among Emerging Adults

Excessive alcohol use can create problems for the drinker and for others. Using data from the NEXT Generations Study, a nationally representative cohort study starting in 10^th grade (2009-10 school year), consequences of drinking during the first year post high school (2013) in relation to residence and school status were explored. Specifically, we tested if these variables were associated with consequences of drinking, and if they modified the relation between self-reported 30-day alcohol use (any/none) and consequences of drinking. Participants reported 6-month perceptions of consequences of their own drinking (11 items, e.g., missing class or work), and others’ drinking (8 items, e.g., interrupted work, studying or sleep). Outcome variables were derived as the total number of items endorsed as happening once or more. Poisson regressions with robust standard errors controlling for design variables were used; interactions of alcohol use with school status and with residence were tested.

Participants (n=2051) were 60% (weighted) female, 62% white, 14% African American, and 19% Hispanic. Fifty-three percent reported alcohol use. Residence was categorized as home with parents/guardians (56%), on own (16%), or on campus (28%); school status as not attending (28%), attending community college/technical school (28%), or attending 4-year college (44%).  Drinkers compared to non-drinkers reported more consequences for self (weighted means, 1.92, SE=0.15 vs. .73, SE=0.21, p<.001) and others’ drinking (1.48, SE=0.13 vs. .64, SE=0.08, p<.005).

School status was not associated with either outcome. Residence was associated with consequences for self, such that compared to living at home, living on campus (p<.01, fully adjusted model) was associated with more consequences. Living on campus (p<.001), and on own (p<.05) compared to living at home, were associated with more consequences for others’ drinking in the model including alcohol use. Only the association with living on campus (p<.05) was maintained when demographic variables were included. None of the interaction terms were significant.

Those who reported 30-day alcohol use also reported more 6-month consequences of others’ drinking, possibly describing a negative consequence of more exposure to peers who drink. The lack of interactions between drinking and residence suggests that not living with parents does not exacerbate the consequences of alcohol use. Nonetheless, living on campus had an independent association with consequences, indicating a possible influence of campus life.  Proximal consequences of drinking as used here may provide a useful target for prevention efforts on college campuses.