Cognition, emotion regulation and alcohol consumption in college students

Abstract

This study explored the relationship between cognitive development, emotion regulation and the amount of alcohol consumed by college students. The sample included 102 (80 female and 22 male) college students currently enrolled in undergraduate, graduate or professional school programs. Participants varied in demographic characteristics, but majority of the sample were Caucasian, female graduate students. Findings indicated that the explored factors of cognitive development, emotion regulation, and other demographic features were not useful predictors of alcohol consumption. A significant relationship was found between alcohol consumption and the emotion regulation type of expressive suppression. Due to limitations with sample variability and size, sampling techniques, and data entry problems, further research is needed to explore the relationship uncovered between suppressing emotions and the consumption of larger amounts of alcohol among college students.