Studies Report New Data RE Collegiate Drinkers

Although it is not surprising that collegiate women reporting blackouts also consume more alcohol, experience more alcohol problems, report drinking for enhancement reasons, and have lower semester grade point average (GPA), documentation of this fact may be of use when interviewing these women clinically. At a recent meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism (RSA) in San Antonio, researchers from Miami University of Ohio reported a significant correlation between blackouts in women and these drinking-related characteristics. The significance of this small study (N = 424) remains to be determined by subsequent investigation, but suggests that practitioners may find such correlational data useful when conducting brief motivational interviews with collegiate women. For example, frequent use or reports of higher consumption may warrant additional exploration of blackouts, or as some students suggest, brown out for partial blackouts or trouble recalling all aspects of a drinking experience. The presence of these significant behavioral indicators of a substance use disorder may become useful data when facilitating “change talk” (Miller & Rollnick, 2013).

In a related presentation at the RSA conference in San Antonio, researchers at the U of Nebraska-Lincoln reported on the relationship between drinking, sleep deprivation, and academic performance. Although it comes as no surprise to those familiar with collegiate drinking, poorer academic performance appears related to the impact of drinking on a student’s amount and quality of sleep. Prevailing opinions regarding the negative correlation between drinking and academic performance suggest that it is the time spent drinking and recovering from its effects that explain poorer academic performance, but this study suggests it may be the mitigating effects of disrupted sleep patterns that explain issues related to poorer academic performance and drinking. NOTE: There is ample evidence suggesting alcohol’s ability to disrupted REM sleep –  To read more, search alcohol REM Sleep disruption using your favorite search engine.

In yet another presentation from the RSA conference in San Antonio with significance for those interested in collegiate drinking, investigators at the U of Houston in Texas report on an emerging drinking-related phenomenon resulting from the nexus of “collegiate drinking” and “social media” like Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and similar digital outlets that permit the posting of photos. Called Body Vandalism, this phenomenon involves drawing pictures on individuals, giving them unflattering haircuts, posing them in suggestive positions, etcetera, and then photographing the individual and posting on social media. Although alcohol consumption is involved in both victim and perpetrator, victims tend to report being more highly intoxicated. Poor decision making and victimization are nothing new when considering high-risk drinking, the advent of digital media and the ease with which such photos are placed online suggest yet another consequence of drinking that practitioners may wish to explore when interviewing collegians regarding their drinking—To read more, search Body Vandalism Drinking using your favorite search engine.

The 3 studies reviewed in this post suggest additional areas of interest for contemporary practitioners to explore when working with college students. Engaging students in such a way as to invite the telling of their individual stories related to collegiate drinking can increase the likelihood of helping arrange conversations so that students talk themselves into change.

What do you think?
Dr. Robert

Miller & Rollnick (2013). Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change, 3rd Edition.