title: Alcohol-Induced Blackouts and Other Negative Outcomes During the Transition Out of College.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is considerable debate about the prospective association between alcohol-dependence symptoms and alcohol-related blackouts. The goal of this study was to examine the associations among alcohol-dependence symptoms, blackouts, and social and emotional consequences during the transition out of college.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants (N = 829; 66% female) were part of a 6-year longitudinal study designed to explore alcohol use and risky behaviors during and after college. Data for these analyses were from Years 4 and 5 of data collection, which most closely corresponded to the transition out of college. Using cross-lagged models, we tested the prospective associations of alcohol-dependence symptoms, blackout frequency, and social and emotional consequences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alcohol-dependence symptoms in Year 4 predicted increased frequency of blackouts and social and emotional consequences during the subsequent year. Blackouts during Year 4 also significantly predicted increased alcohol-related social and emotional consequences, but not dependence symptoms, in Year 5.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although blackouts do not predict the development of alcohol-dependence symptoms, they increase the risk for less severe alcohol-related consequences during the transition out of college. This may result from the cognitive reconciliation of negative behaviors that occur during these episodes of amnesia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
authors.forename: Emily R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Wilhite
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas.
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fromme
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012306:Risk; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult