Cross-National Longitudinal Insights into College Alcohol Beliefs and Consequences: The Role of Food and Alcohol Disturbance

Abstract The present study examined the mediational role of FAD-intoxication (i.e., restricting calories to increase or quicken alcohol intoxication) in the relationship between college alcohol beliefs (CABs) and negative alcohol-related consequences. A sample of 2543 student drinkers from six countries completed the baseline survey, and 505 drinkers completed at least one follow-up. Two models examined whether frequency of FAD-intoxication mediated the relationship between CABs and alcohol-related problems, and structural invariance testing was conducted across sex and countries. FAD-intoxication was concurrently and prospectively associated with greater endorsement of alcohol-related consequences and significantly mediated the effects of CABs on alcohol-related consequences. The relationship of FAD-intoxication on negative alcohol related consequences was stronger for females compared to males, and stronger in the U.S., South Africa, England, and Canada, compared to Argentina and Spain. Intervention programs for college students engaging in FAD-intoxication may benefit from targeting CABs to reduce negative alcohol-related consequences.