Disinhibited characteristics and binge drinking among university student drinkers

Abstract

Binge drinking is a major problem at North American universities. Disinhibited traits have provided insight on other patterns of alcohol involvement, but less is known about how they relate to bingeing. Drinkers at a large urban university (n=293) completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale 11 (BIS-11), the Aggression Questionnaire, and the Thrill and Adventure Seeking and Boredom Susceptibility scales. Binge drinking was assessed using the NIAAA recommendation for standardizing binge frequency. Hierarchical regression was used to evaluate relationships between disinhibited traits and bingeing. BIS-11 Motor Impulsiveness, Thrill and Adventure Seeking and Boredom Susceptibility predicted bingeing. As about 15% of the variability in bingeing was due to disinhibition facets, they should be considered in future models of student vulnerability to bingeing.