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Abstract #161120

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Ryan J. Martin, MS¹, RenéE. Umstattd, PhD, CHES², Stuart Usdan, PhD³, Jennifer Cremeens, MS³, Laura L. Talbott, PhD, CHES⁴, and Marilyn Gardner, PhD⁵. (1) Health Sciences, University of Alabama, 111 East Annex, Box 870311, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, 205-348-9717, rjmartin78@gmail.com, (2) Department of Health Science, University of Alabama, 108 East Annex, Box 870311, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487, (3) Department of Health Sciences, University of Alabama, Box 870311, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0311, (4) Department of Human Studies, University of Alabama at Birmingham, EB 255, 1530 3rd Ave S, Birmingham, AL 35294, (5) Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, 1906 College Heights, Bowling Green, KY 42101

College students who drink excessively often experience poor school performance, psychosocial problems, antisocial behaviors, injuries, overdoses, high-risk sexual behaviors, and other risk factors, such as alcohol-impaired driving. A concept that may be effective in alleviating both alcohol consumption and negative alcohol-related consequences are protective behavioral strategies, such as alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The purpose of this research was to explore the relationship between alcohol consumption, protective behavioral strategies and school performance among a sample of college students (N=406) who drank alcohol in the past 30 days.

Structural equation modeling (SEM) demonstrated that alcohol consumption amount was negatively correlated with school performance, where protective drinking behaviors were positively correlated with school performance. Specifically, the less alcohol consumed and the more protective drinking behaviors a participant engaged in, the better his/her school performance. The two-factor measurement model predicting school performance included drinking amount and protective drinking behaviors as latent variables and allowed the uniquenesses among two drinking amount indicators to correlate (hours spent drinking at last outing and number of drinks consumed). Based on the combinatory rules for standardized root mean square residual and comparative fit index, this model represented a good fit to the data (÷2=36.05, df=17, p<.004, RMSEA=0.05, SRMR=0.03, CFI=0.98). Thus, supporting the usefulness of SEM in predicting the academic performance of college students based on their drinking behavior. Universities with an interest in reducing alcohol-related consequences, such as poor school performance, should implement and promote interventions and/or campaigns that focus on increasing the awareness of protective drinking strategies.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize the relationship between alcohol consumption, protective behavioral strategies and academic performance among a population of college students.
• Recognize the usefulness of a structural equation model in predicting the academic performance of college students based on their drinking behavior.
• Understand the need for college campuses to implement interventions and/or campaigns that increase awareness of protective drinking strategies.

Keywords: Alcohol, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

• Slides (pdf) or Handout