The relationship between concussion and alcohol consumption among university athletes

Abstract

IntroductionThis study investigated concussion as a potential risk factor for increased alcohol consumption in university athletes.MethodsUsing a cross-sectional design, 41 university students (37% with a history of concussion) completed self-report measures, while electrodermal activation (EDA) was recorded for each participant to capture baseline physiological arousal.ResultsAs expected, concussion status significantly predicted alcohol consumption over and above athletic status, b = 0.34, p = 0.034, 95% CI [0.195, 4.832], such that those with a prior concussion history engaged in greater alcohol consumption. Importantly, concussion status also significantly predicted baseline physiological arousal, b = −0.39, p = 0.014, 95% CI [−0.979, −0.120], such that those with a history of concussion exhibited lower EDA.ConclusionsElevated alcohol consumption among athletes is a pronounced associate of concussion in sports and may be a behavioral reflection of disruption to the orbitofrontal cortex – an area implicated in inhibition.

Physiological underarousal as a mechanism of aggressive behavior in university athletes with a history of concussion

“…Importantly, when investigating potential mechanisms of this relationship, it was found that physiological arousal was a partial mediator of the relationship between injury severity and physical aggression, such that those with more severe injuries exhibited lower levels of physiological arousal, which in turn accounted for higher levels of aggression. Consistent with previous work indicating physiological dysregulation after concussion (e.g., Alcock et al., 2018; Baker & Good, 2014; van Noordt & Good, 2011), these findings imply that aggressive behaviors may be associated with concussion history (i.e., physiological underarousal), over and above athletic status, due to physiological unpreparedness. Alternatively, due to their chronically underaroused state, these athletes may be more likely to engage in aggressive forms of play in an attempt to increase their baseline levels of alertness; however, the current study did not directly test these potential explanations.…”

“…The vmPFC's location proximal to the orbital bones of the skull (Morales, Diaz‐Daza, Hlatky, & Hayman, 2007) renders it more susceptible to disruption following rapid acceleration/deceleration of the head; as a result, attenuated arousal is experienced across the spectrum of injury severity (Iverson & Lange, 2009)—even after milder injuries (Alcock, Gallant, & Good, 2018; Baker & Good, 2014; van Noordt & Good, 2011). Physiological underarousal, indexed by dampened respiration, electrodermal activation (EDA), and heart rate (Craig, 1968; Lazarus, Speisman, & Mordkoff, 1963), has been proposed as a mechanism of impulsivity and risk‐taking behavior.…”

Substance use is associated with worse mental health and altered resting state functional connectivity in female university athletes at baseline: A pilot study

“…Concussion history has also been associated with higher alcohol and cannabis use in college students [ 29 ]. Athletes are at greater risk for concussion [ 30 ], and prior research has suggested that higher exposure to repetitive head injuries is associated with increased substance use [ 31 ] and symptoms of depression [ 32 , 33 ]. Higher exposure to repetitive head impacts has been suggested to affect vulnerable brain areas involved in impulsive and risk-taking behaviours, which may account for increased substance use [ 31 ].…”

“…Athletes are at greater risk for concussion [ 30 ], and prior research has suggested that higher exposure to repetitive head injuries is associated with increased substance use [ 31 ] and symptoms of depression [ 32 , 33 ]. Higher exposure to repetitive head impacts has been suggested to affect vulnerable brain areas involved in impulsive and risk-taking behaviours, which may account for increased substance use [ 31 ]. Within our limited sample size, we did not observe differences in concussion history between substance users and non-user; however, the relationship between cannabis use and symptom endorsement in athletes requires further investigation to explore whether associations between substance use and mental health status are mediated by concussion history.…”

Associations between interpersonal violence victimisation and concussions among US college students

“…Research on concussions has increased due to their associated adverse health outcomes. In particular, concussions are associated with reduced academic performance (Wasserman et al, 2016), mental health problems, including depression, anxiety (Martin & Chaney, 2018;Rice et al, 2018) and aggression (Mosti & Coccaro, 2018;Rice et al, 2018), hazardous alcohol use (Alcock et al, 2018;Martin & Chaney, 2018) and cognitive impairment (Karr et al, 2014). Although research on concussions commonly focuses on athletic participation (Bryan et al, 2016;Covassin et al, 2018;Manley et al, 2017;Marshall et al, 2015;Prien et al, 2018), particularly among college athletes (Baugh & Kroshus, 2016;Dompier et al, 2015;Kerr et al, 2016), little research has been conducted to investigate the association between diverse forms of interpersonal violence victimisation (e.g., emotional abuse, physical abuse and sexual assault) and concussions particularly among college students.…”