Predictors and consequences of unplanned drinking among young adults

IF 3.7 2区医学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL Addictive behaviors Pub Date : 2025-02-10 DOI:10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108286

Brian Suffoletto , Tammy Chung

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

Unplanned drinking, or drinking that violates intentions to limit alcohol consumption, has been linked to significant alcohol-related consequences in college students; however, predictors and outcomes remain incompletely understood among other populations of young adults. This study identified person- and event-level predictors of unplanned drinking and explore the association of unplanned drinking with negative alcohol-related consequences in a racially and educationally diverse cohort of young adults.

Method

A total of 938 young adults (aged 18–25; 70 % female; 60 % non-college; 37 % Black) participating in a randomized trial testing text-message alcohol interventions completed ecological momentary assessments (EMA) reporting drinking intentions and alcohol consumption twice weekly for at least 4 weeks over a 14 week period. Controlling for intervention effects, mixed-effects models examined predictors of unplanned drinking days, and zero-inflated negative binomial regression models assessed the relationship between frequency of unplanned drinking and negative alcohol consequences at a 14-week follow-up.

Results

Participants reported alcohol consumption on 16.9 % of days when they had no plan to drink. Odds of unplanned drinking was higher for older age (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 1.06, p < 0.01), Black race (aOR = 1.25, p < 0.01), higher AUDIT-C score (aOR = 1.14, p < 0.001), and higher negative urgency score (aOR = 1.05, p < 0.01), weekends (aOR = 1.63, p < 0.001) and the presence of friends drinking (aOR = 9.37, p < 0.001). Compared to participants in the lowest unplanned drinking day category, those in the highest category showed a 26 % higher negative alcohol consequence rate ratio (RR = 1.26, 95 % CI [1.07, 1.48]).

Conclusions

Unplanned drinking in young adults is strongly influenced by social context and individual risk factors. This behavior, when extreme, was associated with increased negative alcohol-related consequences. Interventions targeting impulsivity and peer influence may reduce unplanned drinking and mitigate its harmful effects.

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来源期刊

Addictive behaviors 医学-药物滥用

CiteScore

8.40

自引率

4.50%

发文量

283

审稿时长

46 days

期刊介绍： Addictive Behaviors is an international peer-reviewed journal publishing high quality human research on addictive behaviors and disorders since 1975. The journal accepts submissions of full-length papers and short communications on substance-related addictions such as the abuse of alcohol, drugs and nicotine, and behavioral addictions involving gambling and technology. We primarily publish behavioral and psychosocial research but our articles span the fields of psychology, sociology, psychiatry, epidemiology, social policy, medicine, pharmacology and neuroscience. While theoretical orientations are diverse, the emphasis of the journal is primarily empirical. That is, sound experimental design combined with valid, reliable assessment and evaluation procedures are a requisite for acceptance. However, innovative and empirically oriented case studies that might encourage new lines of inquiry are accepted as well. Studies that clearly contribute to current knowledge of etiology, prevention, social policy or treatment are given priority. Scholarly commentaries on topical issues, systematic reviews, and mini reviews are encouraged. We especially welcome multimedia papers that incorporate video or audio components to better display methodology or findings. Studies can also be submitted to Addictive Behaviors? companion title, the open access journal Addictive Behaviors Reports, which has a particular interest in ''non-traditional'', innovative and empirically-oriented research such as negative/null data papers, replication studies, case reports on novel treatments, and cross-cultural research.