Citation

Calhoun BH, Linden-Carmichael AN. Addict. Behav. 2021; 124: e107120.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107120

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pre-gaming, or drinking before going out, is common among young adults and associated with heavier drinking and negative consequences. However, findings have been mixed as to whether a unique, day-level association between pre-gaming and negative consequences exists independent of alcohol intake. It is also unknown whether young adults experience more positive consequences of alcohol use on days they engage in pre-gaming. This study tested day-level associations between pre-gaming and positive and negative consequences, controlling for same-day alcohol intake, as well as whether these associations were moderated by person- and day-level variables.

METHODS: Participants were 148 young adult heavy drinkers (M(age) = 20.30, SD(age) = 1.45, 57.4% female) who reported past-month simultaneous alcohol and marijuana use. For up to 14 consecutive days, participants completed electronic surveys asking about their drinking behaviors and consequences the previous day.

RESULTS: Prior to adjusting for alcohol intake, Poisson multilevel models showed that participants reported more negative and positive consequences on days they pre-gamed and those who reported pre-gaming more often throughout the study also experienced more negative and positive consequences overall. After controlling for alcohol intake, a positive, day-level association between pre-gaming and positive consequences remained. There was no evidence of moderation of study associations by person- or day-level variables.

CONCLUSION: The unique association between pre-gaming and positive consequences may help explain why pre-gaming is linked with heavy drinking and other risky behaviors as positive consequences have been shown to reinforce such behaviors.

FINDINGS suggest pre-gaming may be a useful intervention point for alcohol reduction programs.

Language: en

Keywords

Young adults; Alcohol; Alcohol-related consequences; Daily diary; Pre-gaming; Pregaming