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European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 25, Supplement 3, 2015
4.E. Pitch Presentations: Societal challenges requiring strong communication & advocacy Binge drinking is associated with drinking context in young adults: a cross-sectional analysis George Kritsotakis G Kritsotakis1, M Vassilaki2, L Chatzi2, T Konstantinidis1, E Androulakis1, H Brokalaki3, AE Philalithis2 1 Nursing Department, Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Greece 2 Department of Social Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Crete, Greece 3 Nursing Department, University of Athens, Greece Contact:
[email protected]
Background Alcohol misuse is common in young adults compromising their physical and mental health. This cross-sectional analysis explores the associations of binge drinking with drinking context in all 1st year university students of TEI Crete, Greece. Methods Students (N=1121, response rate>95%, mean age 18.31 0.57 years, 54% girls) completed an anonymous questionnaire based on HBSC/ESPAD studies and the ‘Drinking Context Scale-9’ during 2012. Based on the answers, we created four patterns of very high/high alcohol use (Convivial/Coping/Intimate, N = 82, 7.3%; Convivial/Coping, N = 22, 2%; Convivial, N = 255, 22.7%; Coping, N = 32, 2.9%), two of moderate (Moderate, N = 111, 9.9%; Convivial-only Moderate, N = 258, 23%), and one of low alcohol use (N = 361, 32.2%). Those who have consumed in the past month at least 5 drinks in one sitting were categorised as binge drinkers. Logistic regression models were performed adjusted for potential confounders. Results Binge drinking was reported by 727 students (64.9%) in the last month. Of the binge drinkers, 45.4% were in the low alcohol, 67.6%-70.2% in the medium alcohol, and 75%-81.8% in high alcohol use pattern (p = 0.000). Boys and girls showed significantly different patterns of drinking. Girls outnumbered boys in the Convivial Moderate (53.4%), Coping (62.5%) and low alcohol use categories (66.2%) (p = 0.000). Compared to the low alcohol use group, odds for binge drinking were: Convivial Moderate (OR = 2.546, 95%CI 1.777-3.646); Moderate (OR = 2.59, 95%CI 1.59-4.2); Coping (OR = 3.26, 95%CI 1.38-7.68); Convivial (OR = 4.28, 95%CI 2.91-6.28); Convivial/Coping (OR = 4.40, 95%CI 1.43-13.5); Convivial/ Coping/Intimate (OR = 5.84, 95%CI 2.91-11.71). Conclusions Binge drinking is differentially related to drinking context. Odds for binge drinking were gradually increasing from low to high alcohol use and for drinking for multiple reasons, in relation to recreational use. Interventions targeting alcohol misuse are needed at universities. Key messages Binge drinking is differentially related to drinking context in young adults Interventions targeting alcohol misuse are needed at higher education institutes
