Citation

Davies EL, Paltoglou AE. Subst. Use Misuse 2019; 54(5): 747-757.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology , Manchester Metropolitan University , Manchester , UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10826084.2018.1536720

PMID

30636488

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Social anxiety and self-consciousness are associated with alcohol-related problems in students. The practice of pre-loading [pregaming] is one avenue for exploration regarding this relationship. Individuals may pre-load to reduce social anxiety and feel more confident when socializing, which could lead to the increased harms experienced. The current study aimed to explore reasons for pre-loading, and whether public and private self-consciousness and social anxiety were related to pre-loading, increased drinking, and harms.

OBJECTIVES: Prospective study with four-week follow up of 325 UK students aged 18--30 years old. Participants completed measures of private and public self-consciousness, social anxiety, alcohol consumption, alcohol-related harms, and pre-loading.

RESULTS: Financial motives and mood-related reasons, such as gaining confidence were reported as reasons for pre-loading. Pre-loading predicted hazardous alcohol consumption, but social anxiety, and public and private self-consciousness did not. However, pre-loading, public self-consciousness, and social anxiety predicted alcohol-related harms. Furthermore, public self-consciousness mediated the relationship between pre-loading and harms in a positive direction and this appeared to be more relevant in high-risk (AUDIT 8+) than low-risk drinkers.

CONCLUSIONS: Students who scored higher in public self-consciousness appeared to be at greater risk of harms from pre-loading. Further research should examine this relationship with particular attention to high-risk drinkers, and explore which aspects of a night out are related to heightened self-consciousness. Interventions could incorporate measures to reduce public self-consciousness, in order to reduce the negative impacts of pre-loading.

Language: en

Keywords

Alcohol; pre-loading; self-consciousness; students