Exploring the Relationship between Drinking Games and Alcohol-Related Consequences: A Test of Competing Hypotheses

• In Event: Competing Perspectives on Crime and Delinquency

Abstract

The current study examines the relationship between drinking game involvement and alcohol-related consequences (e.g., feeling sick, trouble with the law). To do so, we utilize theoretically-grounded, competing hypotheses from self-control, differential association/social learning, and strain theories to examine predictors of both drinking game participation and alcohol-related consequences. Survey data collected from 2,349 college students from a southeastern university were analyzed using negative binomial regression models. While all three criminological theories predict alcohol-related consequences, we find variation across theories when examining the mediating role of drinking games. First, while having low self-control and a high association of ‘drinking friends’ significantly predicts alcohol-related consequences, this relationship is partially mediated by participating in drinking games. Further, we find a significant interaction between low self-control and a high association of ‘drinking friends’ when predicting drinking game involvement, demonstrating the importance of considering both theories together. A different story emerges with strain theory, which is a significant predictor of alcohol-related consequences, but this relationship is not mediated by drinking game involvement. Such findings have important policy-related implications, such as creating prevention and/or intervention techniques that target the most influential source of drinking game behavior in an effort to reduce alcohol-related consequences.

Authors

• Amber N. Sanders, Pennsylvania State University

• Douglas Andrew Baals, Pennsylvania State University