Risk level-specific hazardous drinking factors of alcohol use disorders in Japanese university students

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Mood, emotions, and alcohol use motives are risk factors for hazardous alcohol use among young people, but relevant research about students in Asia is scarce. In addition, it is necessary to identify risk factors not only in students who are already drinking dangerously, but also in students who are in the preliminary stages of dangerous drinking, but few studies have pursued risk factors for these different degrees of hazardous drinking. Therefore, the present study aimed to measure the risk-level-specific factors in Japanese college students. Methods 1,067 college students were categorized by the risk level of their drinking habits, and the risk-level-specific factors for hazardous drinking were examined. Results Students who engaged in high-risk drinking, and those who were suspected of being alcohol-dependent, were predominantly males. These students’ motives for alcohol consumption and expressions of anger were significantly stronger. In addition, they resorted to avoidant, accepting responsibility and emotion-focused strategies for coping with stress. The interesting findings are that positive mood states such as vigor and friendliness tended to be specifically higher in the risky drinking group. Conclusion These results suggest that emotions such as anger and stress coping skills may be potential targets for preventive interventions against hazardous drinking.