Alcohol Mixed with Energy Drink Use as an Event-Level Predictor of Physical and Verbal Aggression in Bar Conflicts
BACKGROUND:
Young
adult use of alcohol mixed with caffeinated energy drinks (AmEDs) has been
globally linked with increased odds of interpersonal aggression, compared with
the use of alcohol alone. However, no prior research has linked these behaviors
at the event level in bar drinking situations. The present study assessed
whether AmED use is associated with the perpetration of verbal and physical
aggression in bar conflicts at the event level.
METHODS:
In Fall
2014, a community sample of 175 young adult AmED users (55% female) completed a
web survey describing a recent conflict experienced while drinking in a bar.
Use of both AmED and non-AmED alcoholic drinks in the incident were assessed,
allowing calculation of our main predictor variable, the proportion of AmEDs
consumed (AmED/total drinks consumed). To measure perpetration of aggression,
participants reported on the occurrence of 6 verbal and 6 physical acts during
the bar conflict incident.
RESULTS:
Linear
regression analyses showed that the proportion of AmEDs consumed predicted
scores for perpetration of both verbal aggression (β = 0.16,
p < 0.05) and physical aggression (β = 0.19,
p < 0.01) after controlling for gender, age, sensation-seeking and
aggressive personality traits, aggressive alcohol expectancies, aggressogenic
physical and social bar environments, and total number of drinks.
CONCLUSIONS:
Results
of this study suggest that in alcohol-related bar conflicts, higher levels of
young adult AmED use are associated with higher levels of aggression
perpetration than alcohol use alone and that the elevated risk is not
attributable to individual differences between AmED users and nonusers or to
contextual differences in bar drinking settings. While future research is
needed to identify motivations, dosages, and sequencing issues associated with
AmED use, these beverages should be considered a potential risk factor in the
escalation of aggressive bar conflicts.
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