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Drinking game behaviors among college students: how often and how much?
American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse (2010)
  • Byron L. Zamboanga, Smith College
  • Seth J. Schwartz, University of Miami
  • Kathryne Van Tyne, Smith College
  • Lindsay S. Ham, University of Arkansas
  • Janine V. Olthuis, Dalhousie University
  • Sunan Huang, University of Miami
  • Shin-Yoon Kim, University of Texas at Austin
  • Monika Hudson, University of San Francisco
  • Larry F. Forthun, University of Florida
  • Melina Bersamin, California State University, Sacramento
  • Robert Weisskirch, California State University, Monterey Bay
Abstract
Background: Participation in drinking games (DG) has been identified as a common health-risk behavior among college students. However, research suggests that the frequency of DG participation alone may not pose a significant health risk; rather, gaming may be most hazardous when large amounts of alcohol are consumed. Objectives: The present study was designed to examine whether specific gaming behaviors (frequency of play and amount of consumption) place gamers at elevated risk for negative drinking outcomes. Method: Students from 30 U.S. colleges completed self-report questionnaires via the Internet about their drinking attitudes and behaviors. Four groups of student gamers ( N = 2,230) were examined: low frequency/low consumption ( n = 1,047), low frequency/high consumption ( n = 453), high frequency/low consumption ( n = 326), and high frequency/high consumption ( n = 404). Results: Multilevel regression analyses indicated that the frequency x consumption interaction emerged as a significant predictor of negative drinking consequences. Follow-up analyses indicated that quantity of alcohol consumed during DG predicted negative drinking consequences for high-frequency gamers only. Conclusions/Scientific Contribution: The present results challenge the assumption that all drinking-gaming practices pose equivalent health risks for gamers. Considering only participation in or level of consumption during DG may not tell the complete story with respect to the health hazards involved with gaming behaviors among college students. 
Publication Date
2010
DOI
10.3109/00952991003793869
Citation Information
Byron L. Zamboanga, Seth J. Schwartz, Kathryne Van Tyne, Lindsay S. Ham, et al.. "Drinking game behaviors among college students: how often and how much?" American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse Vol. 36 Iss. 3 (2010) p. 175 - 179
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/rob-weisskirch/23/