Citation

Graupensperger S, Wilson O, Bopp MJ, Blair Evans M. J. Am. Coll. Health 2018; ePub(ePub): 1-8.

Affiliation

Department of Kinesiology , Pennsylvania State University, State College , Pennsylvania , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/07448481.2018.1536058

PMID

30570438

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate directionality of the association between alcohol use and physical activity in a college student sample, longitudinally across three time points. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 396 undergraduate students from a large university in the United States (62% females) participated in this study.

METHODS: Self-report data of alcohol use and physical activity were collected at three timepoints with 3-month lags between waves. Random-intercept cross-lagged panel modeling was used to disentangle within- and between-person effects.

RESULTS: Despite no significant between-person effects, there were significant cross-lagged paths from alcohol use to vigorous physical activity at the within-person level. Specifically, when individuals consumed more alcohol than normal at earlier timepoints, they reported more subsequent vigorous physical activity at 3-month follow-ups.

CONCLUSION: We provide evidence that alcohol use may positively predict later physical activity in college students over the course of a school year. These findings advance theoretical understanding of how these two health behaviors are linked using sophisticated methods.

Language: en

Keywords

Drinking; emerging adulthood; exercise; health behavior; random intercept cross-lagged panel model