Speeding through the Frat House: A Qualitative Exploration of Nonmedical Adhd Stimulant Use in Fraternities

DeSantis, Alan D.; Noar, Seth M.; Webb, Elizabeth M.

doi:10.2190/de.40.2.d

Cited by 63 publications

(73 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Using a revised coping model by Cooper et al (2008), we found that dysfunctional coping was related to CE use; however, this is unlikely to be the only factor related to students' enhancement practices. Previous studies have emphasized illicit drug use McCabe et al 2005;Schelle et al 2015); availability and association to other CE users (Desantis et al 2010;Vrecko 2015); and attitudes (Partridge et al 2012) as important drivers. It will therefore be important for future research to both replicate our main finding and to further explore the relationship between coping styles and the range of other factors known to impact CE use.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive Enhancement and Coping in an Australian University Student Sample

2017

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Cognitive enhancement (CE) agents are those purported to improve or augment aspects of cognition such as working memory, creativity, and executive function in healthy individuals. CE by university students looking to improve their academic performance, particularly through the use of pharmacological agents (or nootropics), has become an area of increasing interest for researchers. However, studies on the prevalence of, and motivations behind, students' CE use at Australian universities are limited. This study aimed to contribute a new sample of prevalence data, as well as corroborate previous qualitative research that has suggested that emotion-focused and avoidant coping styles may make students more susceptible to utilizing CE drugs. A sample of N=633 individuals was recruited to complete the BCognitive Enhancement and Student Lifestyle Survey^online. The key questions of interest concerned students' enhancement drug usage habits, usage motivations, and coping styles. Analyses found that 6.32% of students indicated lifetime use of prescription CE agents for the purposes of study-related enhancement. Furthermore, dysfunctional coping strategies were associated with an increased likelihood of both lifestyle and prescription CE drug use. Findings from this study refine current understandings of enhancement drug use in Australia and are contextualized in regard to potential avenues for on-campus health interventions and regulatory opportunities. In particular, helping students to maintain manageable stress levels through identifying less harmful coping strategies may prove useful.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognitive Enhancement and Coping in an Australian University Student Sample

2017

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“…The non-medical use or misuse of stimulants, usually defined as taking stimulants without a valid prescription or greater use of stimulants than as prescribed (Benson et al, 2015;Weyandt et al, 2013b), has soared among university students since the beginning of the century (Babcock & Byrne, 2000;DeSantis, Noar, & Webb, 2010;DuPont, Coleman, Bucher, & Wilford, 2008;Dussault & Weyandt, 2013;Hall, Irwin, Bowman, Frankenberger, & Jewett, 2005;Janusis & Weyandt, 2010;Judson & Langdon, 2009;Low & Gendaszek, 2002;Messina et al, 2014;McCabe et al, 2005;McCabe, West, Teter, & Boyd, 2014;Rabiner et al, 2009;Sharp & Rosen, 2007;Verdi, Weyandt, & Zavras, 2014;Weyandt et al, 2009;White, Becker-Blease & Grace-Bishop, 2006 A systematic review of the literature conducted by Weyandt and colleagues (2013) revealed that several reasons for misusing prescription stimulants have been reported, chief among them being cognitive and academic enhancement. More specifically, college students who disclose engaging in stimulant misuse report doing so while studying (e.g., preparing for exams, writing papers) to increase their attention and alertness, and thus improve their academic performance.…”

Section: Use and Misuse Of Prescription Stimulantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prescription Stimulant Misuse and ADHD Symptomatology Among College Students in Iceland

Guðmundsdóttir

Weyandt

Ernudottir³

2016

J Atten Disord

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As growing numbers of students with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) pursue postsecondary education, the availability of psychostimulant medications on college campuses has steadily increased. Although a large body of research has documented that misuse of prescription stimulant medication is a prevalent problem on American college campuses, few studies have been conducted beyond the United States. Iceland, closely followed by the United States, has the highest stimulant medication prescription rates in the world; however, no systematic efforts have been made to investigate to what extent these medications are being misused within the Icelandic college student population. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to: a) examine the prevalence of prescription stimulant misuse among N=521 college students in Iceland as well as factors that are potentially predictive of stimulant misuse, including ADHD symptomatology, symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress, self-reported grade-point average (GPA), and student sex; and b) identify the prevalence of significant ADHD symptomatology within this population.Results revealed the prevalence of lifetime stimulant misuse behavior was approximately 13% within the overall sample, 11% among participants without a prescription for stimulant medication, and 42% among participants holding a prescription. The primary reported reason for misuse was academic enhancement, similar to findings from the United States and Europe. Findings also suggested risk factors for prescription stimulant misuse among college students in Iceland included male sex, anxiety symptoms, and a history of ADHD symptoms. Approximately 8% of participants reported persistent, elevated ADHD symptomatology, while approximately 9% reported a previous diagnosis of ADHD.The present findings have implications for public health policy in Iceland, particularly as it relates to the college population. Limitations of the study and suggestions for future research are discussed.iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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“…Jocks may be susceptible to the dangers of energy drink consumption whereas athletes may not be. In addition, future research should examine the differences between "high-risk" and "low-risk" fraternities (DeSantis, Noar, & Webb, 2010) and how the two groups differ in terms of energy drink consumption and the requisite problems associated with energy drinks. In brief, "low-risk" fraternities are more inclusive and respectful whereas "high-risk" fraternities possess more traditional and monolithic attitudes toward masculinity, alcohol, sexual coercion, and so forth.…”

Section: Limitations and Future Directions For Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Energy Drink Use and Its Relationship to Masculinity, Jock Identity, and Fraternity Membership Among Men

Wimer

Levant

2013

Am J Mens Health

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The present study examined whether previous findings linking masculinity constructs and health behaviors applied to a relatively recent health risk behavior for men, the consumption of energy drinks. In addition, it also examined whether self-identifying as a jock and being a member of a fraternity would moderate the relationships between masculinity constructs and energy drink consumption. A total of 589 men completed measures of three masculinity constructs (endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology, conformity to masculine norms, and gender role conflict), energy drink consumption, jock identity, and fraternity membership, in addition to a demographic questionnaire. Age, endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology, and conforming to the masculine norms of risk taking and primacy of work were identified to be significant predictors of energy drink consumption. Furthermore, jock identity moderated the relationship between the endorsement of traditional masculinity ideology and energy drink consumption whereas fraternity membership moderated the relationship between conforming to the masculine norm of violence and energy drink consumption. Limitations, implications, and potential future directions are discussed.

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Speeding through the Frat House: A Qualitative Exploration of Nonmedical Adhd Stimulant Use in Fraternities

Cited by 63 publications

References 20 publications

Cognitive Enhancement and Coping in an Australian University Student Sample

Cognitive Enhancement and Coping in an Australian University Student Sample

Prescription Stimulant Misuse and ADHD Symptomatology Among College Students in Iceland

Energy Drink Use and Its Relationship to Masculinity, Jock Identity, and Fraternity Membership Among Men

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