Pattern of alcoholic beverage consumption and academic performance among college students

• Main Authors: Aline Silva de Aguiar Nemer, Maria Arlene Fausto, Vilma Aparecida da Silva-Fonseca, Monique Haddad Ciomei, Késia Diego Quintaes
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidade de São Paulo 2013-01-01
• Series: Archives of Clinical Psychiatry
• Subjects: Drogas; abuso de álcool; instituições acadêmicas
• Online Access: http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0101-60832013000200003&lng=en&tlng=en

BACKGROUND: Alcoholic beverages are widely available in the university environment, particularly at the parties. There are few studies addressing the relationship between alcohol consumption and academic performance among college students. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the behavior of college students regarding the profile of alcohol consumption and its academic consequences. METHODS: The volunteers (343 students) answered a questionnaire about their pattern of alcohol consumption and possible related behaviors, especially academic performance. Participants were classified as "non-drinkers" (ND), "non-binge drinkers" (nBD), "binge drinkers" (BD) and "heavy drinkers" (HD). RESULTS: 88.1% of the students reported ingesting alcoholic beverages, 44% as BD. Most of the drinker students (75.5% - nBD, BD or HD) stated getting intoxicated at least once a month. Binge drinking was the predominant pattern (66.2% of those who drank). HD students presented a risk 9.2 times higher of not being in the ideal period of the course. DISCUSSION: The college students evaluated presented high rates of alcohol abuse. Binge drinking might have interfered in their academic performance. Organic, social and behavioral consequences were also reported.