title: Clinical relevance of heavy drinking during the college years: cross-sectional and prospective perspectives.
abstract: This study investigated the clinical relevance of heavy drinking during the college years and beyond on concurrent and prospective alcohol-related problems in a high-risk sample (N = 377). Measures of heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems were significantly correlated cross-sectionally over the study frame, regardless of how these constructs were operationalized. However, the magnitude of the association between heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems declined substantially over time, with the most pronounced decrease following the college years. Despite this cross-sectional decrease in the association between heavy drinking and alcohol-related problems over time, heavy drinking during the college years significantly and substantially predicted alcohol-use disorders up to 10 years later. Implications for assessment of heavy drinking as well as prevention of problematic alcohol use in college students are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Alcoholism Research Center and Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia, 65211, USA.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: O'Neill
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Parra
authors.forename: K J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Sher
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000523:psychology; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D015146:Midwestern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities