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AbstractBackgroundCollege‐aged young adults (e.g., 18 to 29‐year‐olds) use social media more than any other age group. An emerging body of literature shows that higher exposure to alcohol‐related social media content is associated with greater alcohol consumption among college students. However, most studies assess exposure to peer drinking on social media using global measures, rather than measuring the exposure to alcohol‐related posts of identified specific close peers. We examined whether having a higher proportion of important peers (i.e., social network members) who post alcohol‐related social media content is associated with greater alcohol consumption and alcohol‐related consequences. We also investigated the extent to which the qualities of network members who share alcohol‐related content are associated with participants' alcohol outcomes.MethodsParticipants were 130 college students (86.2% female, 56.9% White) with an average age of 23.39 years (SD = 5.63) who had consumed at least one alcoholic drink in the past week. Participants completed measures of their social media use, alcohol consumption, alcohol‐related consequences, and characteristics of important peers in their social network, including their alcohol‐related social media posting.ResultsHaving a higher proportion of social network members who post alcohol‐related social media content was positively related to participants' drinks per week and peak number of drinks. Higher network proportions of drinking buddies posting alcohol‐related content were also associated with a greater frequency of alcohol use. Having a higher proportion of friends who post alcohol content and from whom the participants seek advice was linked to more alcohol‐related consequences.ConclusionsHaving more important peers who post alcohol‐related content on social media is associated with alcohol outcomes among college students. Harm‐reduction focused alcohol interventions delivered on college campuses that incorporate information about the influence of viewing and sharing alcohol‐related content could help to reduce alcohol consumption and alcohol‐related consequences among students.

M-bridge was a sequential multiple assignment randomized trial (SMART) that aimed to develop a resource-efficient adaptive preventive intervention (API) to reduce binge drinking in first-year college students. The main results of M-bridge suggested no difference, on average, in binge drinking between students randomized to APIs versus assessment-only control, but certain elements of the API were beneficial for at-risk subgroups. This paper extends the main results of M-bridge through an exploratory analysis using Q-learning, a novel algorithm from the computer science literature. Specifically, we sought to further tailor the two aspects of the M-bridge APIs to an individual and test whether deep tailoring offers a benefit over assessment-only control. Q-learning is a method to estimate decision rules that assign optimal treatment (i.e., to minimize binge drinking) based on student characteristics. For the first aspect of the M-bridge API (when to offer), we identified the optimal tailoring characteristic post hoc from a set of 20 candidate variables. For the second (how to bridge), we used a known effect modifier from the trial. The results of our analysis are two rules that optimize (1) the timing of universal intervention for each student based on their motives for drinking and (2) the bridging strategy to indicated interventions (i.e., among those who continue to drink heavily mid-semester) based on mid-semester binge drinking frequency. We estimate that this newly tailored API, if offered to all first-year students, would reduce binge drinking by 1 occasion per 2.5 months (95% CI: decrease of 1.45 to 0.28 occasions, p < 0.01) on average. Our analyses demonstrate a real-world implementation of Q-learning for a substantive purpose, and, if replicable in future trials, our results have practical implications for college campuses aiming to reduce student binge drinking.

AbstractBackgroundPrevious research indicates college students report heavier drinking on certain events (e.g., 21st birthday). While past research has identified heavier drinking events, students’ own reports of which events are associated with elevated drinking remains understudied. The current study utilized mixed methods to explore potential high‐risk drinking events (HRDE) for college student drinkers and how these events differed from typical drinking and each other.MethodsCollege student drinkers (N = 204) reported the number of drinks they consume on nine predetermined events (e.g., Halloween). Students also responded to open‐ended questions listing five events during which they had elevated drinking and indicating the amount consumed on each event. Open‐ended responses were coded into similar event categories. Descriptive statistics for drinks consumed were calculated for predetermined and coded open‐ended events. Chi‐square analyses assessed differences in endorsement of open‐ended events by birth sex, age group, and Greek membership. Two multilevel count regressions assessed within‐person differences in number of drinks consumed between participants’ typical drinking occasions and (1) highly endorsed open‐ended events and (2) predetermined events.ResultsFor all open‐ended event categories, average number of drinks consumed exceeded heavy episodic drinking thresholds; however, there was substantial variability. Comparing predetermined events to participants’ typical drinking indicated elevated drinking on participants’ birthdays, New Year's Eve, Halloween, Finals, and Spring Break; significant differences between events also emerged. Comparison of open‐ended categories to participants’ typical drinking indicated elevated drinking on birthdays, celebrations, parties, and holidays; however, there were no significant differences between open‐ended events.ConclusionsStudents who drink alcohol report heavier drinking on specific calendar‐based events (e.g., Spring Break). However, students also report non‐calendar‐related events (e.g., non‐specific parties) as some of their highest drinking events. More research is needed to understand how intervention and prevention programs can be adapted to target both known calendar‐based HRDE, and unknown, idiosyncratic HRDE.

Laboratory research in adults indicates that alcohol-related subjective effects are enhanced under some social conditions. However, it is unknown whether this "social facilitation" of alcohol effects occurs in adolescents and is associated with alcohol use in the natural ecology.We examined associations of social facilitation of alcohol-related subjective effects with subsequent alcohol use among a relatively high-risk group of adolescents who reported drinking alcohol both with friends and alone.Los Angeles high school students from a prospective study (N = 142; 51% female; 10th graders) completed a baseline survey that assessed alcohol-related "positive" and "negative" subjective effects in two contexts: social (alcohol with friends) and solitary (alcohol alone); social facilitation was calculated as the difference between social and solitary. Students then completed five semi-annual surveys spanning 30 months (2014-2017) assessing 30-day alcohol use (days used, number of drinks, binge drinking).Greater social facilitation of positive effects was significantly associated with greater number of alcohol use days (RR [95% CI] = 1.48 [1.19, 1.82]; p < .001), greater number of drinks (RR [95% CI] = 1.38 [1.14, 1.66]; p = .001), and greater odds of binge drinking (OR [95% CI] = 1.75 [1.20, 2.57]; p = .004). Similar associations were found with social positive effects. There were no significant associations between solitary positive effects-or any negative effects-and alcohol use outcomes.Social facilitation can be measured outside of the laboratory. Relatively high-risk drinking adolescents who are more susceptible to the social facilitation of subjective alcohol effects are more likely to use more alcohol and binge drink.

AbstractBackgroundAmerican Indian (AI) adolescents report disproportionate higher rates of alcohol use and alcohol‐related consequences than adolescents from other racial/ethnic groups. Trauma exposure is also reported at high rates among AI individuals and likely confers risk for alcohol use. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of assaultive trauma experiences (e.g., physical assault, sexual assault) on alcohol use and alcohol‐related consequences in AI adolescents.MethodsWe conducted a secondary analysis of self‐reported data on trauma exposure, alcohol consumption, and lifetime alcohol‐related consequences provided by AI 7th to 12th graders residing on or near a reservation (n = 3498, Mage = 14.8; 49.5% female). Institutional Review Boards, tribal authorities, and school boards approved the study protocols prior to beginning data collection.ResultsNearly half (49.3%, n = 1498) of AI adolescents reported having experienced at least one assaultive trauma in their lifetime. Those who had experienced assaultive trauma were more likely to report lifetime alcohol use (χ2 = 111.84, p < 0.001) and experienced greater alcohol‐related consequences (t(1746) = 12.21, p < 0.001) than those with no assaultive trauma exposure. Multilevel regression analyses indicated that a greater number of assaultive traumatic events was significantly associated with greater odds of lifetime alcohol use (p < 0.001, OR = 1.81, 95% CI [1.65, 2.00]) and having experienced a greater number of alcohol‐related consequences (b = 0.36, SE = 0.04, t = 16.95, p < 0.001, 95% CI [0.31, 0.46]).ConclusionsFindings of the present study highlight the relevance of exposure to assaultive trauma to AI adolescents’ use of alcohol and experiences of alcohol‐related consequences. These findings support the need for trauma‐informed interventions in addressing alcohol use among AI adolescents.

American college students who study abroad experience increases in their drinking behavior, concerning risky sexual behaviors, and high rates of sexual violence while abroad. Despite these concerns, institutions offer limited programming to students prior to departure to address these risks and no empirically supported interventions currently exist that are targeted toward preventing increased drinking, risky sexual behavior, and sexual violence abroad. To help address alcohol and sexual risk abroad, we designed a brief, single-session online predeparture intervention focused on risk and protective factors known to associate with alcohol and sexual risk abroad.Using a sample of 650 college students from 40 home institutions, we conducted a randomized controlled trial of the intervention and tested its effects on drinking (drinks per week, binge drinking frequency, alcohol related-consequences), risky sexual behaviors, and sexual violence victimization during the trip abroad (first month, last month abroad) and one-month and three-months after return home.We observed small, but nonsignificant, intervention effects on drinks per week and binge drinking days during the first month abroad and three months after they had returned home to the United States, and small, significant effects on risky sexual behaviors during the first month abroad. The study found no observable effects at any time point for alcohol-related consequences or for sexual violence victimization abroad.Though mostly nonsignificant, small initial intervention effects were promising in this first empirical test of an alcohol and sexual risk prevention program for study abroad students. However, students may need more intensive programming with booster sessions to experience lasting intervention effects during this particularly high-risk period.NCT03928067.

Family discussions about climate change are a critical factor influencing children's climate change perceptions and behaviors. Yet, there is limited research on family communication about climate change in the US. Drawing from an online longitudinal sample, 214 parents reported on their 336 children. Descriptive statistics examined engagement in family climate change communication. Children's climate change concerns and parents' interest in engaging in conversations about climate change were assessed by the child's age. Logistic models examined how recent family climate change communication was associated with parents' perceived roles and barriers to engaging in conversations. Most parents (68%) were interested in talking to their children about climate change; of those expressing interest, only 46% reported recent communication. Parents reported that older children were more concerned about climate change than younger children (0-5 years: 21%; 6-11 years: 43%; 12-17 years: 56%), but no differences were identified in parents' interest in communicating with their children by the child's age. Recent family climate change communication was significantly associated with not knowing what to say and parents' perception that their role was to support their children in action. Study findings suggest a significant opportunity to involve families in climate change communication. Parents may benefit from training resources, especially those tailored to children's age, to help them communicate with their children about climate change. Strategies that engage parents and children in activism activities together are also needed.