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. 2008 Dec;33(12):1546-56.
doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2008.07.010. Epub 2008 Jul 23.

Risk for excessive alcohol use and drinking-related problems in college student athletes

David A Yusko  1 , Jennifer F Buckman, Helene R White, Robert J Pandina
Affiliations

Risk for excessive alcohol use and drinking-related problems in college student athletes

David A Yusko et al. Addict Behav. 2008 Dec.

Abstract

There is compelling evidence that college student athletes engage in frequent episodes of heavy drinking and are prone to negative consequences resulting from such use. This study sought to identify risk and protective factors associated with student-athlete drinking and determine if student-athlete risk factors differed from those of non-athletes. Athletes compared to non-athletes reported more exaggerated perceptions of peer heavy drinking and lower sensation seeking and coping and enhancement motives for drinking, suggesting a risk profile distinct from non-athletes. In the overall sample, higher sensation seeking, overestimation of peer heavy drinking, non-use of protective behaviors while drinking, and higher enhancement and coping drinking motives were associated with greater frequency of heavy episodic drinking and more negative drinking consequences. In athletes compared to non-athletes, sensation seeking was more strongly associated with heavy episodic drinking and drinking to cope was more strongly associated with negative alcohol-related consequences. Overall, the results suggest that already proven brief intervention strategies, with minor adaptations related to the roles of sensation seeking and drinking to cope, may be helpful for student athletes.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The influence of sensation seeking on frequency of heavy episodic drinking is moderated by student-athlete status.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The influence of coping motivations for drinking on negative consequences from drinking is moderated by student-athlete status.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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