Assessing Drinking and Academic Performance Among a Nationally Representative Sample of College Students Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • This investigation assessed whether alcohol consumption was negatively related to grade point average (GPA) among a nationally representative sample of college students. Items from the American College Health Associations National College Health Assessment ( N = 22,424) were investigated. One-way ANOVAs and logistic regression analyses were conducted. Results revealed that respondents with lower GPAs consumed a greater number of drinks compared with those with higher GPAs. Students with higher GPAs engaged in heavy episodic drinking less than students with lower GPAs. Number of drinks consumed was the strongest predictor of academic performance; the likelihood of being an A student decreased with each drink consumed. Similarly, binge drinking was the strongest predictor; the likelihood of being an A student decreased as binge drinking increased. The dynamic, interdependent relationship between alcohol and GPA documented herein confirms previous research, which delineates reduced academic performance as a function of alcohol consumption.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF DRUG ISSUES

author list (cited authors)

  • Piazza-Gardner, A. K., Barry, A. E., & Merianos, A. L.

citation count

  • 21

complete list of authors

  • Piazza-Gardner, Anna K||Barry, Adam E||Merianos, Ashley L

publication date

  • October 2016