Alcohol-Related Behaviour in Freshmen University Students in Sardinia, Italy

Abstract

This study aims to provide a picture of University of Cagliari students’ alcohol-related behaviour and to explore factors associated with it. Data were collected by administering a questionnaire to 992 freshmen university students from different programs consisting of twelve closed questions, including three questions from the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test for Consumption (AUDIT-C short form). Three subgroups of alcohol-related behaviour were distinguished (risky drinkers, social drinkers and abstainers). In order to explore factors associated with patterns of alcohol consumption, a multivariate logistic regression was performed. The prevalence of risky drinkers was 35%. A binge-drinking behaviour at least once in the last twelve months was declared by 65% (more widespread in men and in students living away from their parents). Risky consumption is significantly associated with age of onset of alcohol use, living away from parents’ home, drinking outside meals and attending health courses. Regarding the levels of daily alcohol consumption perceived as a health risk, 66% of men and 88% of women indicate values higher than those recommended. The results underline the need for tailored prevention measures. University could be a promising setting to implement actions according to a health promotion perspective, to empower students to control their alcohol consumption.

Alcohol Use Disorders among Slovak and Czech University Students: A Closer Look at Tobacco Use, Cannabis Use and Socio-Demographic Characteristics

“…It is also necessary to take into account the environment and related social contexts for drinking in which university students live. It is possible to agree with Mereu et al [ 17 ], who confirmed that living away from parents’ home is associated with problematic alcohol use. However, this study showed a discrepancy between the examined countries in terms of the trajectory of the association between living in dormitories and problematic alcohol use.…”

“…Many factors may have contributed to this discrepancy, and further research is needed to better understand the results. The fact is that living in dormitories offers more opportunities for risky behaviours, including drinking alcohol and using other addictive substances, than living at home with parents [ 1 , 17 ]. Nevertheless, the COVID-19 pandemic was an unknown situation and various measures were taken across the countries, which also affected the process of education at universities.…”

“…This justifies respecting gender differences in research. In addition to gender characteristics, there are many other possible determinants of problematic alcohol use such as living away from parents’ home during semesters [ 1 , 17 ], parent attachment [ 18 ], smoking [ 15 ], mental health problems and satisfaction with life [ 19 , 20 ], or age of alcohol consumption onset [ 21 ]. The need to constantly monitor this problem is underlined by the fact that university students who suffer from problematic alcohol use with the risk of dependence are also characterized by the use of other addictive substances, such as tobacco, cannabis or cocaine [ 22 ].…”

Gender Differences among Sardinians with Alcohol Use Disorder

“…This result may be due to stronger cultural pressure to avoid alcohol being placed on females rather than males in Sardinia than in Tuscany [76]. However, other studies failed to reveal similar differences between Sardinian male and female university students [77,78], suggesting that, both in Sardinia and other Italian regions, cultural pressure to avoid alcohol by females may be decreasing [58].…”

Analysis of AUDIT Domains in Freshman Students in Spain: Three Cross-Sectional Surveys (2005, 2012 and 2016)

“…Several studies on freshman students have discovered that the age of onset of alcohol consumption and the expectations about alcohol use are among the factors that most contribute to risky alcohol consumption, though living away from home and high maternal educational level also confer an increased risk [14][15][16].…”