Patterns of Alcohol Consumption in Spanish University Alumni: Nine Years of Follow-Up

Abstract

The aim of this study was to empirically identify different profiles of Spanish university alumni, based on their alcohol use over 9 years, and to further characterize them. A cohort study was carried out between 2005 and 2015 among university students (Compostela Cohort-Spain; n2015 = 415). Alcohol consumption was measured using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). A two-stage cluster analysis, based on their AUDIT total scores was carried out separately for males and females. The further characterization of every profile was based on demographic data, age at onset of alcohol use, positive alcohol-related expectancies, tobacco and cannabis use, as well as their answers to some European Addiction Severity Index items. Five different clusters were identified: Low users (29.2%), Moderated users (37.2%), At-risk users (14.2%), Decreasing users (13.2%) and Large users (6.2%) for females, and Low users (34.4%), At-risk users (25.6%), High-risk users (15.6%), Decreasing users (14.4%) and Large users (10.0%) for males. Being a cannabis user or a smoker was positively associated to those more hazardous clusters in both genders. Regarding females, significant differences in the age of onset and high positive expectancies were found. However, there were few significant differences among the groups in relation to their employment status and social relations. The results reveal the existence of different typologies of alcohol users among university alumni, with differences among males and females. Modifying positive expectancies, limiting access to alcohol at a young age, and reducing uses of other substances uses are key to promote healthier alcohol use profiles and to prevent hazardous uses.

Population Attributable Fraction of Early Age of Onset of Alcohol Use in Alcohol Abuse and Dependence: A 3-Year Follow-Up Study in University Students

“…Living off-campus, outside of university residences and away from the parental home have also been shown to be risk factors for both alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence, although only in women. Similar results were observed in previous studies [21,40], possibly due to a stricter and more controlled home environment [58,59], mainly for young females. Moreover, the study cohorts included more females, and the lack of significance of this variable in males may be due to lower statistical power.…”

“…Nevertheless, the rates of prevalence of alcohol abuse remained fairly constant during the three years of follow-up. Perhaps, in this case, the peak consumption has not been reached in either gender, an interpretation previously made by other authors with similar results [17,21]. It will be interesting to observe how these trends evolve in the coming years.…”

“…The reported findings on this topic are variable [60]. Accessibility to alcohol is also closely related to economic income [21], which may also explain the association between full-time working status and the higher incidence of alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence observed in our study.…”

Development of a Column-Switching HPLC-MS/MS Method and Clinical Application for Determination of Ethyl Glucuronide in Hair in Conjunction with AUDIT for Detecting High-Risk Alcohol Consumption

“…Alcohol is one of the most consumed and easily accessible drugs globally. In particular, certain alcohol consumption patterns such as binge drinking tend to increase among young people around the world [ 1 ]. Chronic and binge drinking was mentioned as the main determinant of the risk of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) [ 2 ].…”

Blood Alcohol Concentration-Related Lower Performance in Immediate Visual Memory and Working Memory in Adolescent Binge Drinkers

“…With respect to the BD pattern during adolescence, it is similar in 14–16 year-old adolescents and is more common among men than women in the age range of 17–18 years (Observatorio Español sobre Drogas [OED], 2016). A recent study in Spanish university alumni has revealed the existence of different typologies of alcohol users, with differences among males and females (Gómez et al, 2017). In the light of these data, it would seem crucial to consider gender differences when exploring the relationship between BD and memory in late adolescents.…”