Addictive Behaviors
Who was most at risk for playing drinking games during a pandemic (COVID-19) academic year? A multisite college alcohol study
Kayla M. Ford, B.S.
Graduate Student
University of Arkansas
Hanahan, South Carolina
Byron L. Zamboanga, Ph.D.
Professor
University of Arkansas
Fayetteville, Arkansas
Banan Ramadan, M.S.
Doctoral Student
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas
Heidemarie Blumenthal, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
University of North Texas
Denton, Texas
Margo C. Hurlocker, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Michael B. Madson, Ph.D.
Professor
University of Southern Mississippi
Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Objectives: Many college students play drinking games (DG), a risky social drinking activity that encourages heavy alcohol consumption and increases one’s risk for negative health outcomes. Demographic (e.g., male, Greek life membership, athlete status) and residential (e.g., living with friends as opposed to parents) risk factors for alcohol use have been identified, yet less is known about these factors as it pertains to risky drinking practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to the social nature of DGs, this drinking activity may have been especially appealing during this time when many bars and restaurants closed and social distancing guidelines on college campuses were enforced. Given possible differences for risk, the present study examined (a) DG participation rates, and (b) demographic and residential risk factors for DG participation among college students during the pandemic from 2020-2021. Method: This multisite study consisted of a subsample of college student drinkers (N=3681; 18-25 years) who completed an online survey during the 2020-2021 academic year which included questions pertaining to demographics (i.e., Greek life membership and athlete status), living situation (i.e., off-campus with parents, off-campus Greek, off-campus with roommates, off-campus alone, on-campus Greek, on-campus with roommates, or on-campus alone), and DG participation (i.e., virtual only, in-person only, or both). Results: Of the 3681 students in the sample, 595 indicated that they played DGs during a pandemic academic year. Among those who played, close to 80% played in-person DGs only, roughly 15% played both virtual/in-person DGs, and very few (n=13) played virtual DGs only. Risk factors for playing DGs during the pandemic year included Greek life membership (Χ2[1, N=936]=19.08, p< .001, Cramer’s V=.14), being an athlete (Χ2[2, N=936]=17.74, p< .001, Cramer’s V=.14), and living situation (Χ2[6, N=936]=54.07, p< .001, Cramer’s V=.24). Bonferroni post-hoc tests indicated that a higher proportion of Greek fraternity/sorority members and varsity/intermural/club athletes and a lower proportion of students who lived off-campus with parents played DGs than would be expected by chance during the pandemic academic year.
Conclusions: Despite health concerns associated with contracting COVID-19 and increased risk for exposure while playing DGs in-person, almost 80% of college students who participated in DGs did so in the physical presence of others. Consistent with studies conducted on general alcohol use during a non-pandemic academic year, college students from certain demographic (i.e., Greek membership, athlete status) or residential backgrounds (i.e., living with peers) are at risk for DG participation during an academic pandemic year. Targeted alcohol intervention efforts for students from these demographic or residential backgrounds could help reduce both their risk for problematic drinking behaviors and exposure to a pathogen during an academic pandemic year.