Gender Differences in Transdiagnostic Predictors of Problematic Alcohol Consumption in a Large Sample of College Students in Ecuador

Overview

Journal Front Psychol

Date 2022 Mar 14

PMID 35282216

Authors

Rafael Sanchez-Puertas

Pablo Ruisoto

Carla Lopez-Nunez

Silvia Vaca-Gallegos

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Alcohol use is one of the main risk factors that leads to detrimental health effects and support for a transdiagnostic approach to alcohol use disorders is growing. However, the role of transdiagnostic predictors of problematic alcohol consumption in Ecuador are understudied.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine gender differences in psychological stress and inflexibility as transdiagnostic predictors of problematic alcohol consumption in a large sample of college students in Ecuador.

Methods: A total of 7,905 college students (21.49 years, SD = 3.68; 53.75% females) were surveyed using the following standardized scales: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Perceived Stress Scale-14, and Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-7). Macro Process for SPSS (models 4 and 7) was used to analyze mediation and moderation effects.

Results: Reported alcohol consumption was significantly higher in men than women students. On the other hand, women reported significantly higher levels of perceived stress and psychological inflexibility than men students. Gender, age, psychological stress, and inflexibility were significant predictors of alcohol consumption. Moreover, psychological inflexibility mediated the impact of stress on alcohol consumption, particularly in women (for men = 0.065, 95% CI [0.048 to 0.083], for women = 0.070, 95% CI [0.051 to 0.089]).

Discussion: Results of this study support psychological stress and psychological inflexibility as critical transdiagnostic variables related to increased rates of alcohol consumption among Ecuadorian college students. These conclusions contribute to the development of transdiagnostic comprehensive programs, which encompasses promotive, preventive, and treatment services that allow to alleviate the burden of alcohol, as well as to enrich the growing research on alcohol consumption in this population from a gender perspective.

Citing Articles

Emotional Impact of COVID-19 and Emotional Eating and the Risk of Alcohol Use Disorder in Peruvian Healthcare Students.

Zeladita-Huaman J, Aparco J, Franco-Chalco E, Nateros-Porras L, Tejada-Munoz S, Abarca-Fernandez D Nutrients. 2024; 16(17).

PMID: 39275217 PMC: 11397311. DOI: 10.3390/nu16172901.

References

Barbosa-Leiker C, Kostick M, Lei M, McPherson S, Roper V, Hoekstra T . Measurement invariance of the perceived stress scale and latent mean differences across gender and time. Stress Health. 2012; 29(3):253-60. DOI: 10.1002/smi.2463. View

Levin M, Lillis J, Seeley J, Hayes S, Pistorello J, Biglan A . Exploring the relationship between experiential avoidance, alcohol use disorders, and alcohol-related problems among first-year college students. J Am Coll Health. 2012; 60(6):443-8. PMC: 3412304. DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2012.673522. View

Tavolacci M, Ladner J, Grigioni S, Richard L, Villet H, Dechelotte P . Prevalence and association of perceived stress, substance use and behavioral addictions: a cross-sectional study among university students in France, 2009-2011. BMC Public Health. 2013; 13:724. PMC: 3750571. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-13-724. View

Sebena R, El Ansari W, Stock C, Orosova O, Mikolajczyk R . Are perceived stress, depressive symptoms and religiosity associated with alcohol consumption? A survey of freshmen university students across five European countries. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy. 2012; 7:21. PMC: 3395565. DOI: 10.1186/1747-597X-7-21. View

Ruisoto P, Cacho R, Lopez-Goni J, Vaca S, Jimenez M . Prevalence and profile of alcohol consumption among university students in Ecuador. Gac Sanit. 2016; 30(5):370-4. DOI: 10.1016/j.gaceta.2016.02.008. View

Ruisoto P, Lopez-Guerra V, Paladines M, Vaca S, Cacho R . Psychometric properties of the three versions of the Perceived Stress Scale in Ecuador. Physiol Behav. 2020; 224:113045. DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113045. View

Baron R, Kenny D . The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: conceptual, strategic, and statistical considerations. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1986; 51(6):1173-82. DOI: 10.1037//0022-3514.51.6.1173. View

Cavallo P, Carpinelli L, Savarese G . Perceived stress and bruxism in university students. BMC Res Notes. 2016; 9(1):514. PMC: 5178076. DOI: 10.1186/s13104-016-2311-0. View

Reynolds A, Keough M, OConnor R . Is being mindful associated with reduced risk for internally-motivated drinking and alcohol use among undergraduates?. Addict Behav. 2014; 42:222-6. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.11.027. View

10.

Hayes S, Wilson K, Gifford E, Follette V, Strosahl K . Experimental avoidance and behavioral disorders: a functional dimensional approach to diagnosis and treatment. J Consult Clin Psychol. 1996; 64(6):1152-68. DOI: 10.1037//0022-006x.64.6.1152. View

11.

Collins S, Kirouac M, Taylor E, Spelman P, Grazioli V, Hoffman G . Advantages and disadvantages of college drinking in students' own words: content analysis of the decisional balance worksheet. Psychol Addict Behav. 2014; 28(3):727-33. DOI: 10.1037/a0036354. View

12.

Lakens D . Calculating and reporting effect sizes to facilitate cumulative science: a practical primer for t-tests and ANOVAs. Front Psychol. 2013; 4:863. PMC: 3840331. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2013.00863. View

13.

LaBrie J, Lac A, Kenney S, Mirza T . Protective behavioral strategies mediate the effect of drinking motives on alcohol use among heavy drinking college students: gender and race differences. Addict Behav. 2011; 36(4):354-61. PMC: 4039406. DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2010.12.013. View

14.

Seedhom A, Kamel E, Sameh Mohammed E, Raouf N . Predictors of Perceived Stress among Medical and Nonmedical College Students, Minia, Egypt. Int J Prev Med. 2019; 10:107. PMC: 6592112. DOI: 10.4103/ijpvm.IJPVM_6_18. View

15.

Nolen-Hoeksema S, Hilt L . Possible contributors to the gender differences in alcohol use and problems. J Gen Psychol. 2006; 133(4):357-74. DOI: 10.3200/GENP.133.4.357-374. View

16.

Bond F, Hayes S, Baer R, Carpenter K, Guenole N, Orcutt H . Preliminary psychometric properties of the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II: a revised measure of psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance. Behav Ther. 2011; 42(4):676-88. DOI: 10.1016/j.beth.2011.03.007. View

17.

Serrano-Ibanez E, Ruiz-Parraga G, Gomez-Perez L, Ramirez-Maestre C, Esteve R, Lopez-Martinez A . The Relationship Between Experiential Avoidance and Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms: A Moderated Mediation Model Involving Dissociation, Guilt, and Gender. J Trauma Dissociation. 2021; 22(3):304-318. DOI: 10.1080/15299732.2020.1869647. View

18.

Wolitzky-Taylor K, McBeth J, Guillot C, Stone M, Kirkpatrick M, Zvolensky M . Transdiagnostic processes linking anxiety symptoms and substance use problems among adolescents. J Addict Dis. 2016; 35(4):266-277. PMC: 5243862. DOI: 10.1080/10550887.2016.1207969. View

19.

Choi J . Impact of Stress Levels on Eating Behaviors among College Students. Nutrients. 2020; 12(5). PMC: 7284653. DOI: 10.3390/nu12051241. View

20.

Meckamalil C, Brodie L, Hogg-Johnson S, Carroll L, Jacobs C, Cote P . The prevalence of anxiety, stress and depressive symptoms in undergraduate students at the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College. J Am Coll Health. 2020; 70(2):371-376. DOI: 10.1080/07448481.2020.1751173. View