Amanda M. George

Selected impulsivity facets with alcohol use/problems: The mediating role of drinking motives ☆

Impulsivity is associated with alcohol use and related problems, yet limited research has examined the different facets of impulsivity with these outcomes. This study aimed to examine whether sensation seeking, positive urgency, and negative urgency, as separate constructs, would differentially predict alcohol use/problems, and to investigate whether specific drinking motives would mediate these relationships. Self-reported data from an online survey of undergraduate drinkers (n=317) was used in the current study. Findings indicate that sensation seeking and the urgency traits represent unique personality constructs in the prediction of alcohol use/problems, and should be considered separately in future research and when designing prevention and intervention strategies.

Do adolescent delinquency and problem drinking share psychosocial risk factors? A literature review.

Despite the prevalence and damaging effects of adolescent problem drinking, relative to delinquency, far less research has focused on drinking using an integrated theoretical approach. The aim of the current research was to review existing literature on psychosocial risk factors for delinquency and problem drinking, and explore whether integrating elements of social learning theory with an established psychosocial control theory of delinquency could explain adolescent problem drinking. We reviewed 71 studies published post-1990 with particular focus on articles that empirically researched risk factors for adolescent problem drinking and delinquency in separate and concurrent studies and meta-analytic reviews. We found shared risk factors for adolescent delinquency and problem drinking that are encompassed by an extension of psychosocial control theory. The potential of an extended psychosocial control theory providing a parsimonious theoretical approach to explaining delinquency, problem drinking and other adolescent problem behaviours, along with suggestions for future investigations, is discussed.

Social anxiety and drinking game participation among university students: the moderating role of drinking to cope

ABSTRACT Background: Few studies have examined the relationship of social anxiety with drinking game participation. Drinking games represent a popular form of drinking in university settings. Due to their structure, games may appeal to socially anxious drinkers, particularly among those seeking to fit in or cope with the social setting. Objectives: To examine the relationship of social anxiety with frequency of drinking game participation among a university undergraduate sample and to investigate if drinking motives moderate this association. Method: A total of 227 undergraduate students aged 18–24 years (73% female) who had consumed alcohol in the prior year were included in the current investigation. Hierarchical regression examined the influences of social anxiety and drinking motives on frequency of drinking game participation, as well the interactions of social anxiety with drinking for coping motives and conformity motives. Results: Social anxiety failed to emerge as a significant predictor of frequency of drinking game participation. However, drinking to cope moderated the relationship of social anxiety with frequency of drinking game participation. Socially anxious students who drank to cope were more likely to participate in drinking games on occasions when they consumed alcohol than those who did not endorse this drinking motive. Conclusion: Results demonstrated the influence of drinking to cope in the relationship of social anxiety with frequency of drinking game participation. Future work should examine the relationship with other indicators of drinking game activity. Intervention efforts addressing social anxiety and drinking should consider motives for drinking, as well as drinking patterns.

Bingo! An Engaging Activity for Learning Physiological Terms in Psychology

Brain Bingo is a tutorial activity for helping undergraduate psychology students learn complex physiological terms. In two experiments, the authors tested pretest and posttest knowledge, and in Experiment 2, the authors tested retention after 5 weeks. In Experiment 1 (n = 41), the experimental group (Brain Bingo) recalled more terms than the control group (standard tutorial activities). In Experiment 2 (n = 107), control and experimental groups did the Brain Bingo activity, but only the experimental group received feedback during the activity. Both groups recalled more terms at posttest and follow-up than at pretest, and the experimental group outperformed the control group at both time points. Brain Bingo, particularly with feedback, is a useful activity for learning physiological terminology.Brain Bingo is a tutorial activity for helping undergraduate psychology students learn complex physiological terms. In two experiments, the authors tested pretest and posttest knowledge, and in Exp...

A duty of care: non-drinkers and alcohol related harm among an Australian university sample

Studies documenting the harm associated with excessive drinking amongst university students are numerous. Fewer studies have explored the experience of non-drinkers in the university setting. In 2008, 826 students aged 18–29 years responded to an online survey aiming to investigate alcohol use and alcohol related harm at an Australian university. In addition, focus groups were conducted with drinkers and non-drinkers exploring their experience of alcohol exposure at university. This paper reports on the reasons students choose not to drink alcohol and on alcohol related harm witnessed or experienced by non-drinkers and drinkers. The results indicated that most non-drinkers reported health concerns as the main reason for not drinking and reported witnessing a range of alcohol related harm including disturbances to sleep, property damage, verbal abuse, driving after drinking and intimidation of international students. The paper discusses the duty of care implications for university administrators.

Predictors of delinquency among adolescents and young adults: A new psychosocial control perspective:

The present study examined whether a new psychosocial control model of youth problem behaviours, including additional variables of sensation seeking and peer risk-taking behaviour, could be expanded to explain delinquency in early and mid-late adolescence, and emerging early- and mid-young adulthood. We also explored the possible mediating role of peer risk-taking behaviours on conventional social control risk factors of parent attachment, school connectedness, and perceived seriousness of risk-taking behaviours with delinquency. Using a recently updated Australian self-report delinquency measure that can capture undetected antisocial behaviour among both adolescents and adults, a sample of 329 secondary school students (age groups 13–14 and 15–17, 50.6% female) and 334 university students (age groups 18–20 and 21–24, 68.4% female) in Canberra, Australia participated. The new psychosocial control model explained variance in delinquency with medium to large effect sizes, and beyond the original psychosocial control variables in all four age cohorts. Peer risk-taking behaviour explained the largest proportion of variance across all four age groups; its mediating role was partially supported. Impulsivity predicted delinquency among 13–20 years olds as did sensation seeking among 15–24 years olds, suggesting different, yet overlapping influences on developmental trajectories of delinquency.

Drinking game participation and outcomes in a sample of Australian university students: Drinking game participation among students

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Most drinking game (DG) research among university students has been conducted among USA college samples. The extent to which demographics and game type (e.g. team and sculling games) are linked to DG behaviours/consequences among non-USA students is not well understood. As such, the current study investigated characteristics of DG participation (and associated outcomes) among a sample of Australian university students. METHODS University students (N = 252; aged 18-24 years; 67% female) who had consumed alcohol in the prior year completed an online survey. Measures included demographics, DG behaviours (lifetime, frequency and consumption) and gaming-specific consequences. RESULTS Most of the students reported lifetime DG participation (85%). Among those who played a DG in the prior 6 months (69%), most had experienced a negative gaming-specific consequence. While team games were the most popular DG played, regression analysis demonstrated that participation in games which encouraged consumption (e.g. sculling) were associated with increased alcohol consumption during play. In addition to being older, playing DGs more frequently, and consuming more alcohol while playing, participation in both consumption and dice games (e.g. 7-11, doubles) predicted more negative gaming-specific consequences. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS DG participation is common among Australian university students, as it is in other parts of the world. The importance of game type is clear, particularly the risk of consumption games. Findings could help inform interventions to reduce participation in consumption games and identify students who might be especially at-risk for experiencing negative DG consequences.

Examining the factor structure of the Motives for Playing Drinking Games measure among Australian university students: Motives For Playing Drinking Games

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Given the prevalence of drinking games among university students and the health risks associated with playing drinking games, it is important to consider motivations for participation. The psychometric properties of the Motives for Playing Drinking Games (MPDG) measure have been examined among US college student samples, but mixed findings have been reported regarding the number of factors in the measure. This is the first study to examine the factor structure and applicability of the MPDG measure among a sample of Australian university students. DESIGN AND METHODS University students (N = 254; aged 18-46 years; 62% female) with prior drinking experience completed an online survey which included questions pertaining to demographics, drinking game frequency and consumption, drinking game consequences and the MPDG measure. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated that the originally proposed 8-factors within the MPDG measure were problematic in the current sample and a revised 7-factor solution was preferred. Analyses examining the relations of the revised 7 MPDG factors with drinking game behaviours (e.g. gaming-specific consequences and amount consumed during play) highlighted the importance of some MPDG (enhancement/thrills, conformity and sexual pursuit motives). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS While the MPDG measure shows promise for assessing drinking game-specific motives, the need to consider the applicability of MPDG subscales across different samples was apparent.

Virtual World Interview Skills Training for Students Studying Health Professions

This study examined the effectiveness of a health professional virtual world interview skills trainer (IST), in comparison to classroom training via interview role-plays with peers. Students of psychology, physiotherapy, and general health science learned interviewing skills through role-play and virtual world training. Students were randomly allocated to a role-play-first, or IST-first condition. Interviewing self-efficacy was measured at baseline and after each of the learning experiences. In total, 72 students completed all surveys. Students’ reported an increase in interviewing self-efficacy significantly after the IST experience than after role-play.

Social anxiety and drinking game behaviors among Australian university students

INTRODUCTION The relationship of social anxiety with alcohol use/problems has been examined among college student samples, but the relevance of findings to drinking game (DG) consumption/gaming consequences is not well understood due to a paucity of research. METHODS A cross-sectional sample of 224 Australian university students aged 18-25 years (Mage = 20.7 years; 63% female) was utilized for analysis. Participants completed an online questionnaire which included measures of social anxiety, DG consumption, DG consequences, and motives for playing drinking games. RESULTS Social anxiety was positively associated with DG consequences, but not DG consumption. However, after controlling for DG motives, social anxiety was no longer associated with DG consequences. Rather, an indirect effect of social anxiety on DG consequences via conformity DG motives was identified. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight the vulnerability of socially anxious students to experiencing greater drinking game consequences, but the importance of considering motives specific to playing DGs when examining these relationships.