Are changes in binge drinking among European adolescents driven by changes in computer gaming?

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

There is currently no good explanation for the decline in adolescent drinking reported for many Western countries in recent years. As modern computer gaming is highly exciting and socially rewarding, it may function as a substitute for adolescent binge drinking. We hypothesized a negative correlation between country-level changes in computer gaming and binge drinking.

Methods

We analysed within-country changes based on data from 15-16 year-old pupils (n = 517 794) participating in the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Drugs from 1995 to 2015. Binge drinking in the last 30 days (5+ units on one occasion) was regressed on frequency of computer gaming and three control variables measuring the frequency of engagement in other hobbies, reading books and g

SUBMITTER: Halkjelsvik T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8359141 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature