COLLEGE DRINKING GAME PARTICIPATION WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF OTHER PREDICTORS OF ALCOHOL-USE AND PROBLEMS

One hundred and fifty-one alcohol-using college students completed a q uestionnaire on their frequency of drinking game participation, usual amount drunk during these games, and their own and perceived others' r easons for playing. Respondents also reported on their levels of alcoh ol use, moderate to severe problems with alcohol use, expectancies of the effects of alcohol on their moods and behaviors, perceived norms o f significant others for levels of alcohol use, and reasons for drinki ng and not drinking alcohol. They completed the Eysenck I.7 measure of impulsivity, venturesomeness, and empathy. Reported frequencies of dr inking game participation were very high in this sample and were signi ficantly associated with several known predictors of alcohol use and p roblems. Game playing was a highly significant predictor of heavy alco hol use over and above other predictors. The influence of game playing on alcohol problems was found to be mediated by heavy alcohol use.