Dataset Information

Hazardous alcohol consumption among university students in Ireland: a cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

There is considerable evidence of a cultural shift towards heavier alcohol consumption among university students, especially women. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and correlates of hazardous alcohol consumption (HAC) among university students with particular reference to gender and to compare different modes of data collection in this population.

Setting

A large Irish university.

Design

A cross-sectional study using a classroom distributed paper questionnaire.

Participants

A total of 2275 undergraduates completed the classroom survey, 84% of those in class and 51% of those registered for the relevant module.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence of HAC measured using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for Consumption (AUDIT-C) and the proportion of university students reporting 1 or more of 13 adverse consequences linked to HAC. HAC was defined as an AUDIT-C score of 6 or more among males and 5 or more among females.

Results

In the classroom sample, 66.4% (95% CI 64.4 to 68.3) reported HAC (65.2% men and 67.3% women). In women, 57.4% met HAC thresholds for men. Similar patterns of adverse consequences were observed among men and women. Students with a hazardous consumption pattern were more likely to report smoking, illicit drug use and being sexually active.

Conclusions

The findings highlight the high prevalence of HAC among university students relative to the general population. Public policy measures require review to tackle the short-term and long-term risks to physical, mental and social health and well-being.

SUBMITTER: Davoren MP

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4316479 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Hazardous alcohol consumption among university students in Ireland: a cross-sectional study.

Davoren Martin P MP Shiely Frances F Byrne Michael M Perry Ivan J IJ

BMJ open 20150129 1

<h4>Objective</h4>There is considerable evidence of a cultural shift towards heavier alcohol consumption among university students, especially women. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence and correlates of hazardous alcohol consumption (HAC) among university students with particular reference to gender and to compare different modes of data collection in this population.<h4>Setting</h4>A large Irish university.<h4>Design</h4>A cross-sectional study using a classroom distributed ...[more]

PMID: 25633284

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Project description:ObjectiveHarmful use of alcohol represents a large socioeconomic and disease burden and displays a socioeconomic status (SES) gradient. Several alcohol control laws were devised and implemented, but their equity impact remains undetermined.We ascertained if an SES gradient in hazardous alcohol consumption exists in Geneva (Switzerland) and assessed the equity impact of the alcohol control laws implemented during the last two decades.DesignRepeated cross-sectional survey study.SettingWe used data from non-abstinent participants, aged 35-74 years, from the population-based cross-sectional Bus Santé study (n=16 725), between 1993 and 2014.MethodsSES indicators included educational attainment (primary, secondary and tertiary) and occupational level (high, medium and low). We defined four survey periods according to the implemented alcohol control laws and hazardous alcohol consumption (outcome variable) as >30 g/day for men and >20 g/day for women.The Slope Index of Inequality (SII) and Relative Index of Inequality (RII) were used to quantify absolute and relative inequalities, respectively, and were compared between legislative periods.ResultsLower educated men had a higher frequency of hazardous alcohol consumption (RII=1.87 (1.57; 2.22) and SII=0.14 (0.11; 0.17)). Lower educated women had less hazardous consumption ((RII=0.76 (0.60; 0.97)and SII=-0.04 (-0.07;-0.01]). Over time, hazardous alcohol consumption decreased, except in lower educated men.Education-related inequalities were observed in men in all legislative periods and did not vary between them. Similar results were observed using the occupational level as SES indicator. In women, significant inverse SES gradients were observed using educational attainment but not for occupational level.ConclusionsPopulation-wide alcohol control laws did not have a positive equity impact on hazardous alcohol consumption. Targeted interventions to disadvantaged groups may be needed to address the hazardous alcohol consumption inequality gap.

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Dataset Information

Hazardous alcohol consumption among university students in Ireland: a cross-sectional study.

Objective

Setting

Design

Participants

Main outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Hazardous alcohol consumption among university students in Ireland: a cross-sectional study.

Similar Datasets

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