The relationship between membership of a university sports group and drinking behaviour among students at English Universities

Abstract

Aims:The primary aim is to compare members of UK university sport groups with students not engaged in UK university sport in terms of alcohol consumption and risk for alcohol-related harm. A secondary aim is to compare alcohol consumption levels and alcohol-related problems in UK university athletes in different sports and at different competitive levels. Method:A cross-sectional survey using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) and a demographic questionnaire was carried out with a purposive sample of 770 undergraduates (298 male, 471 female) from seven UK universities.Results: University sport members (n = 181) had a median AUDIT score of 11.5 (interquartile range = 8) compared to students not engaged in university sport (n = 588) median AUDIT score of 8 (interquartile range = 11). The difference between medians was highly significant (p < 0.01). There was a significant difference between the median scores of members of team (n = 103 median = 13, IQR = 8) and individual sports (median = 8, IQR = 11), with team sports members scoring higher on the AUDIT (p < 0.01). There were no significant differences on median AUDIT scores between athletes competing at different levels.Conclusions: Levels of alcohol-related risk and harm are high in members of UK university sport groups. . University sports members particularly team sports may be an 'at risk group' for alcohol-related problems and require targeted interventions. Further research is warranted comparing these student groups , and the relationship between sport type, participation level and alcohol consumption.

Drinking Outcome Expectancies and Normative Perceptions of Students Engaged in University Sport in England

“…However, Wechsler et al (1997) reported that a greater percentage of American college athletes than non-athletes reported heavy episodic drinking and frequent episodic drinking. These findings in relation to heavy episodic drinking are mirrored by UK data (Partington et al, 2012).…”

“…No studies as far as we are aware have further examined differences in drinking expectancies between students engaged in university sport and those not. This is despite existing research revealing that these subgroups consume alcohol differently (Partington et al, 2012).…”

“…As a result they suggested that these students use perceptions of others' drinking to rationalise their own heightened consumption (McAlaney & McMahon, 2007). This is of particular relevance to the present study given that Partington et al (2012) found that students engaged in university sport consume alcohol more frequently, in greater quantities and engage in heavy episodic drinking more often than those not engaged in university sport. It is difficult to make a direct comparison to data from the Drinking outcome expectancies and normative perceptions of students engaged in university sport 6…”

“…Additionally, it is possible that the unique social situations within which students involved in university sport consume alcohol (Sparkes, Partington, & Brown, 2007) may influence the alcohol outcome expectancies that they hold and in turn their drinking behaviour. In support of this argument both Partington et al (2012) and Martens, Dams-O'Connor, and Beck (2006a) have suggested that greater understanding of the social situations within which students involved in university sport consume alcohol may help to explain their drinking behaviour.…”

“…Drinking outcome expectancies and normative perceptions of students engaged in university sport in England Drinking outcome expectancies and normative perceptions of students engaged in university sport 3 frequently and in higher quantities than those who do not (Partington et al, 2012). In view of these recent findings it is important that effective interventions and treatments are developed for heavy drinking students engaged in university sport.…”