Latent profiles of alcohol use and differences in risk perceptions of alcohol use among college students.

Objective

To identify latent profiles of alcohol use among college students of legal drinking age and to examine how perceived risk of binge drinking differs across these profiles.

Participants

A total of 340 college students aged 21 or older, drawn from the 2022-2023 Healthy Minds Study.

Methods

Latent profile analysis (LPA) was applied to the 10 items of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), which assesses consumption, dependence symptoms, and alcohol-related problems. Multinomial logistic regression then examined differences in perceived risk of binge drinking across the identified profiles.

Results

Three profiles emerged: Non-Drinkers, Low-Risk Drinkers, and High-Risk Drinkers. Non-Drinkers were significantly less likely than High-Risk Drinkers to perceive slight risk (OR = 0.12) or moderate risk (OR = 0.21) rather than great risk, whereas Low-Risk and High-Risk Drinkers did not differ.

Conclusions

Perceived risk distinguished non-drinkers from drinkers but not the two drinking groups from each other, suggesting that risk awareness alone is unlikely to reach the highest-risk students. Findings underscore the need for tailored, binge-focused prevention strategies.