Differential utility of three indexes of risky drinking for predicting alcohol problems in college students.
This study evaluated the relationship between alcohol-related problems and 3 indexes of risky drinking in college student drinkers: number of drinks consumed per week, frequency of binge drinking, and estimated blood alcohol levels (BALs). Use of 2 independent samples (N1 = 204, N2 = 181) allowed a cross-validation of obtained associations. Results indicated that neither binge drinking frequency nor BAL were more highly related to alcohol-related problems than was weekly drinking. Furthermore, BAL did not provide unique explanatory power in accounting for alcohol-related problems; mixed results were obtained regarding the relationship of binge drinking estimates with problems.
Borsari
B
B
Department of Psychology, Syracuse University, New York 13244-2340, USA. beborsar@psych.syr.edu
Neal
D J
DJ
Collins
S E
SE
Carey
K B
KB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000097:blood*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012016:Reference Values; D013334:Students; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol