Binging at the campus: Motivations and impulsivity influence binge drinking profiles in university students.
This study explored the involvement of two key psychological factors, drinking motives and impulsivity traits, in binge drinking. On the basis of a large screening phase (N=4424), 867 binge drinkers were selected and were first compared with 924 non-binge drinkers. Then, a cluster analysis was performed, focusing on the binge drinker sample, to explore the respective involvement of four drinking motives (DMQ-R model) and four impulsivity facets (UPPS model) in this habit. Centrally, the cluster analysis identified three clusters of binge drinkers presenting distinct psychological characteristics and alcohol consumption patterns: emotional, recreational, and hazardous binge drinkers. Hazardous binge drinkers were characterized by strong drinking motives but moderate impulsivity. Binge drinking should thus no more be considered as a unitary drinking pattern but rather as a habit encompassing a variety of psychological profiles. Moreover, risky drinking habits in young people might be mainly related to disproportionate drinking motives. Future studies should thus consider binge drinking heterogeneity, and prevention programs focusing on drinking motivations should be developed.
Laboratory for Experimental Psychopathology, Psychological Science Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Place C. Mercier, 10, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. Electronic address: severine.lannoy@uclouvain.be.
Séverine
S
Lannoy
Laboratory for Experimental Psychopathology, Psychological Science Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Place C. Mercier, 10, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium; Institute for Health and Behavior, Integrative Research Unit on Social and Individual Development (INSIDE), University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg. Electronic address: joel.billieux@uclouvain.be.
Joël
J
Billieux
Laboratory for Experimental Psychopathology, Psychological Science Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Place C. Mercier, 10, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. Electronic address: marie.j.poncin@uclouvain.be.
Marie
M
Poncin
Laboratory for Experimental Psychopathology, Psychological Science Research Institute, Université catholique de Louvain, Place C. Mercier, 10, B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. Electronic address: pierre.maurage@uclouvain.be.
Pierre
P
Maurage
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000067292:Alcohol Drinking in College / Q000523:psychology*; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010551:Personality; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
Alcohol; Cluster analysis; Hazardous drinking; Psychological factors