title: Description and predictors of positive and negative alcohol-related consequences in the first year of college.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to establish the frequency of positive and negative alcohol-related consequences during the first year of college and to evaluate gender, race/ethnicity, time of year, alcohol use, and intoxication as predictors of consequences using frequent assessments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 1,053; 57.5% female) completed biweekly assessments of alcohol use and positive and negative alcohol-related consequences throughout the year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of drinkers reported both positive and negative consequences. Having a good time and feeling less stressed were the most commonly reported positive consequences. Blackouts and getting physically sick were the most commonly endorsed negative consequences. At the weekly level, number of drinking days, drinks per drinking day, and estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC, reflecting intoxication) were significantly related to all consequences after controlling for demographics and time of year. Negative consequences had stronger associations with number of drinks and eBAC than positive consequences did. With each additional drink consumed on a drinking day, the incidence of negative consequences more than doubled (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 2.34, 95% CI [2.19, 2.50]), whereas the incidence of positive consequences increased by about half (IRR = 1.51, 95% CI [1.47, 1.56]). The consequence with the largest gender difference was regretted sex, with women reporting it more often. Few racial/ethnic differences were found in report of negative consequences. Greater positive and negative consequences were endorsed at the beginning of both academic semesters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As number of drinks and eBAC increase, the relative odds of a negative consequence are higher than that of a positive consequence. Alcohol interventions could promote greater awareness of the likelihood of specific consequences and could highlight that positive consequences are associated with lower levels of drinking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Nancy P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
authors.forename: Elise M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Clerkin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Peter M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Monti
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, Providence Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: O'Leary Tevyaw
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corriveau
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Rhode Island College, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Allan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fingeret
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island.
authors.forename: Christopher W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kahler
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012054:Reinforcement, Psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult