Drinking among college student athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective: To investigate demographics, sport type, athletic identity, and COVID-19 sport season cancelation in relation to alcohol consumption among college student athletes shortly after the pandemic emerged. Participants: College student athletes recruited from U.S. athletic departments. Methods: Survey data were collected from 5,915 college student athletes in April/May 2020. Results: Being female, Latinx, and in a relationship were associated with lower alcohol consumption. Among males, team sport participation was related to greater alcohol consumption. Among females, athletic identity was inversely related to drinking, which was moderated by sport type, such that alcohol consumption was lower as athletic identity strengthened in individual (vs. team) sport athletes. However, we did not find a relationship of COVID-19 sport season cancelation with drinking. Conclusions: Our gender-specific findings are novel and generalizable based on a large, national sample of college student athletes, and may inform strategies for alcohol consumption education among college team sport athletes.

Automated summary

The study investigated the relationship between demographics, sport type, athletic identity, and COVID-19 sport season cancelation and alcohol consumption among college student athletes shortly after the pandemic emerged. The findings revealed that being female, Latinx, and in a relationship were associated with lower alcohol consumption. Among males, participating in team sports was related to higher alcohol consumption. Among females, athletic identity was inversely related to drinking, with individual sport athletes showing lower alcohol consumption as athletic identity strengthened. However, there was no relationship found between COVID-19 sport season cancelation and drinking.