Anxiety, Exams, And College Drinking
- Categories:
- Alcoholism
- binge drinking
Can Drinking Make You Fail Your Exams?
The prevalence of alcohol abuse among college students is not a new story. While non-students of the same age drink alcohol more regularly, college students drink much larger amounts when they do drink. These days, approximately 20% of university students meet the criteria for an alcohol use disorder (AUD). Moreover, 1 in 4 students reported suffering some form of academic consequence (i.e. missing classes, falling behind in a class, low exam or paper grades) as a result of excessive drinking. However, the extent of alcohol abuse on academic performance continues to be a hotly debated topic in the field of addiction.
While the negative effects of alcohol on the brain and liver are well-documented, its effects on students’ academic and social lives are still being measured. Previously, researchers believed alcohol abuse and academic struggles were overtly linked. Yet, recent studies show that the bulk of consequences from drinking relate to motor function, attention span, and mood. Alternatively, poor test scores or failing classes is a more typical problem among heavy drinking students with co-occurring mental health issues or other peripheral personal problems. When combined with drinking, anxiety can contribute the most to poor academic performance. Stress and alcohol can lead to such difficulties that students may be unable to function normally in the college atmosphere.
Need Addiction Support?
It’s time to reclaim your life from addiction. Call now to connect with a treatment provider and start your recovery journey.
Reach out to a treatment provider for free today for immediate assistance.
College Drinking Statistics
37.9% of students between 18 and 22 years-old self-reported binge drinking in the past month.
34% of students reported experiencing between 12 and 51 hangovers each year.
Alcohol’s Effect On Academic Performance
One study, published in the Addiction journal, took a close look at the relationship between drinking and students’ academic performance. Instead of measuring only the amount of alcohol consumed by students and how many of those students experienced negative academic consequences, the study focused on next-day consequences. After drinking to a level of .12 BAC (.08 being the legal limit), results showed that students’ exam scores were not significantly different than when they were sober the night before. In fact, only students’ motor skills (i.e. walking) and mood were measurably impacted. Mood, particularly anxiety, was found to be the single biggest concern reported by students following episodes of heavy drinking.
Furthermore, the study found that students’ perception of their own academic performance rated lower the day after drinking, compared to non-drinking days, even when there was no significant difference in exam scores. These results are supported by another study done by Illinois Wesleyan University, affirming the link between student stress and drinking.
Alcohol And Stress
Like other substances of abuse, alcohol is commonly used as a coping mechanism. Thus, those with high levels of anxiety sensitivity are more likely to turn to drinking during times of high stress – i.e. exams. Interestingly, the Illinois study found that the mere perception of an oncoming high-stress event contributed to heavy drinking, even when students had prepared (i.e. studied for a test). Rates of heavy drinking were also more likely to spike following high-stress events. Studies like these have helped demonstrate how early drinking habits can lead to an AUD throughout an individual’s life.
The people who showed more stress-related drinking — whose drinking really spikes when they’re stressed — they were more likely to develop harmful drinking behavior at the end of college. Our results are preliminary, but I think it’s an important message. Increasing your drinking when you’re stressed could have long-term consequences; it could possibly put you on the path toward a drinking problem.
Binge drinking for college students is not just an issue for their health and grades. Excessive drinking has been linked to sexual assault, injury, traffic deaths, and other alcohol-related crime.
Alcohol Rehab Guide is not affiliated with any insurance.
You Don’t Have To Be Stressed
Though many consider heavy drinking to be part of a normal college experience, habits like this can be extremely detrimental to the rest of your life. Not only are you at a greater risk for developing a dependence and addiction to alcohol in your twenties, you increase your chances of alcohol-related injury and death. If you think you may have an alcohol addiction, reach out to a treatment provider today for information about treatment options.
