EFFECTS OF

BINGE DRINKING
ON ANXIETY OF
COLLEGE
STUDENTS
BY JAFFER SHAH & SOHUM
PATWA

RATIONALE AND PURPOSE OF THE

STUDY
Binge drinking in college students is a high risk
behavior associated with many alcohol-related
problems.
Our study addressed the issue of undergraduate
binge drinking and its relationship with anxiety
levels

HYPOTHESIS
An increased level of binge drinking in
college students is associated with an
increased level of anxiety.

METHODS

Participants were 22 Hofstra University undergraduates

13 females and 9 males

19 years old to 51 years old

81.8% of those surveyed were juniors and 18.2% were

seniors

7 students met the criteria to be considered binge

drinkers

PROCEDURE AND MEASURES

22 participants completed the survey and signed the consent form

The questionnaire was dispersed to students using convenience sampling

Data from the completed surveys were entered and statistical analysis were
performed using the SPSS program

These included:
1. total anxiety vs. average frequency of binge drinking
2. total anxiety in binge drinkers vs. non binge drinkers
3. BMI vs. average number of drinks consumed
4. binge drinking frequency vs. drinking frequency
5. number of drinks consumed vs. drinking frequency

This was a non-experimental research strategy because there were no

experimental or control groups

RESULTS
No association between average frequency of
binge drinking and total anxiety levels in
undergraduate students
No significant difference in anxiety levels between
binge drinkers and non-binge drinkers

RESULTS
Average Number of Drinks
Consumed within a 2-Hour
Period

Average Number of Drinks Consumed within a 2Hour Period vs. BMI

18
16
14
12
10
8
6

4
2
0
0

10

15

20

25

30

BMI (Body Mass Index in kg/m2)

Positive association between BMI and the amount of alcoholic

beverages student consume, on average, within a two-hour

RESULTS
Strong positive relationship between average drinking frequency and
average binge drinking frequency

Average Annual Binge

Drinking Frequency

Average Annual Binge Drinking Frequency vs

Average Annual Drinking Frequency
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

Average Annual Drinking Frequency

Moderately strong positive relationship between average drinking

frequency and average two-hour alcohol consumption

180

DISCUSSION

The results of this study did not support the hypothesis that
students who binge drink more tend to have higher anxiety
levels

Previous studies on this topic have also presented conflicting

results

Drink frequency was positively correlated with drinking higher

quantities of alcohol within a two hour period

Moderately positive correlation was noted between BMI and

the amount of alcoholic beverages student consume, on

DISCUSSION
Limitations of study:

Small sample size

Only students at Hofstra University examined

results might therefore not be generalizable to other

institutions

Further studies examining the relationship

between stress, anxiety levels, and binge drinking
in college students should be conducted