Mental Health Relationship to Alcohol Consumptions

By Faten K. Alghamdi

More than 100,000 college students have been screened to investigate the growing concern of poor mental health, sleep problems, and its relationship to heavy alcohol consumption.  Several national studies conducted in 2010 and 2011 have showed 85% of students experiencing significant daily stress, and 33.3% feels depressed throughout the day for the past year.  Students with poor mental health involving stress, depression, anxiety are more likely to heavy alcohol consumptions.

Recent studies have developed models to extend the relationship of mental health, sleep deprivation, to alcohol consumptions and consequences.   In this model; social, coping, and comforting motivation were examined as mediators of the relationship toward alcohol use.  Outcomes of such studies have shown that 80% of college students consume alcohol yearly, and more than half experience heavy drinking.  Motivation to heavy drinking was related to how the students view themselves compared to others, or related to trying to cope and socialize with others.  However, mental health, depression, and anxiety were the most motives to consume alcohol to find comfort.   Students with strong mental health showed less motivation toward drinking compared to student with poor mental health. 

As a consequence, the risk to have legal issues such as sexual assaults, physical abuse, and risking academic career increases.  It has been found that alcohol consumption is related to most outraged behaviors among college students.

In conclusion, colleges should consider screening for student complaining of sleep deprivation, anxiety and stress for a long period of time.  These problems are evidence of mental health issues and are strong motive to find comfort in drugs or heavy alcohol consumption.  Early examination and curing of mental health issues will help student prevent health risk and bad consequences in the future.

Reference

Kenney SR. Mental Health, Sleep Quality, Drinking Motives, and Alcohol-Related Consequences: A Path-Analytic Model. Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs. 2013-11-01;74:841.