The Relation Between ADHD Symptoms and Alcohol Use in College Students.
OBJECTIVE
Although there is evidence to suggest an association between ADHD and alcohol use in college students, results are inconclusive primarily because studies have failed to control for related variables. Thus, this study was designed to systematically compare the relative contributions of inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity to alcohol use and alcohol-related problems in a sample of college students while controlling for effects of antisocial behaviors.


METHODS
A total of 192 undergraduate college students from a rural Midwestern university received class credit for participating in the study. They completed measures of alcohol use, ADHD symptoms, and antisocial behavior.


RESULTS
Hierarchical regressions revealed inattention, but not hyperactivity/impulsivity, was related to alcohol-related problems even when controlling for antisocial behavior. However, neither inattention nor hyperactivity/impulsivity was related to alcohol use regardless of whether current antisocial behavior was controlled.


CONCLUSIONS
Inattention may be an important factor related to alcohol-related problems in college students.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA grmesman@uams.edu.
Glenn R
GR
Mesman
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001288:Attention; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006948:Hyperkinesis; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
ADHD; alcohol; college students