A National Study of the Reasons for Use and Non-Use of Alcohol among College Student-Athletes by Sex, Race, and NCAA Division

ABSTRACT Alcohol use among college student-athletes should be of great concern due to their risk for excessive consumption and related negative consequences compared to their non-athlete peers. Previous research has focused on reasons and/or motives for alcohol and other drug use among student-athletes, rather than non-use. Additionally, previous studies on student-athletes have typically focused on a single NCAA division. Therefore, the purpose of this study sought to identify both reasons for use and nonuse of alcohol among NCAA student-athletes, and explore potential differences by gender/sex, race/ethnicity and NCAA Division. In summary, there are significant differences for use and non-use of alcohol between males and female student-athletes, White and Black student-athletes, and student-athletes of differencing NCAA divisions (I, II, and III). ********** Data reported by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (2012) suggest that alcohol use among college student-athletes should be of great concern because they are more likely to engage in excessive consumption of alcohol and experience serious negative consequences when compared to their non-athlete peers (Martens, Dams-O'Connor, & Beck, 2006). In the same report, the NCAA presented substance abuse trends of NCAA student-athletes; 83.1% of respondents reported drinking alcohol within the last 12 months and of this group 49% reported drinking five or more drinks in one sitting (binge drinking/heavy episodic drinking). Moreover, student-athletes that engage in alcohol abuse have reported that they believe this behavior is a normal part of college life for most student-athletes (LaBrie, Hummer, Huchting, & Neighbors, 2009). Not only are college student-athletes susceptible to the same physical, cognitive, and social consequences of alcohol and other drug use as their non-athlete peers, these effects are often exacerbated by the demands that intercollegiate sports place on them (Denny & Steiner, 2009; Venne, Laguna, Walk, & Ravizza, 2006). Whereas physical and cognitive side effects of substance use such as dehydration, increased blood pressure, and difficulty concentrating are of concern for everyone, these same side effects among athletes can cause serious performance impairments, injury, and longer recovery from injury (Murphy, Snape, Minett, Skein, & Duffield, 2012). There is also a growing body of research on the relationship between substance use and psychosocial consequences among college student-athletes. Compared to non-athletes, student-athletes are more likely to experience negative alcohol related consequences such as driving under the influence or riding with someone under the influence, risky sexual behavior, and physical and/or sexual violence (Brenner & Swanik, 2007; LaBrie et al., 2009). Consumption of alcohol by student-athletes differs due to many varying factors. For example, peer norms, environmental influences, and parental communication are all significant mediators of the athlete-heavy drinking relationship (Turrisi, Mastroleo, Mallett, Larimer, & Kilmer, 2007). Another consideration is the unique social environments, heightened physical and psychological stress, and greater time constraints experienced by student-athletes as a result of their dual status as an athlete and as a student (Yusko, Buckman, White, & Pandina, 2008). For example, alcohol use has been shown to be related to in-season/out-of-season fluctuations (Yusko et al., 2008) and peer and environmental influences (Mastroleo, Marzell, Turrisi, & Borsari, 2012; Turrisi et al., 2007). Previous research has examined the concepts of motives and reasons for alcohol use in an effort to postulate why student-athletes use alcohol (Wahesh, Milroy, Lewis, Orsini, Wyrick, 2013). The terms motive and reason are often not differentiated and used interchangeably. According to Merriam-Webster (n.d.), motive is defined as a need or desire that causes a person to act; whereas, reason is a statement offered in explanation or justification (e. …