Abstract
Recent advances when investigating the confusing relationship between alcohol consumption and exercise have focused on adverse alcohol consequences rather than general consumption (Buchholz & Crowther, 2014; Weinstock, Petry, Pescatello, & Henderson, 2016). Although neither study found a relationship between exercise and consequences of drinking, neither study examined the potential moderating effect of exercise on the relationship between drinking and adverse consequences. The present study tested exercise as a protective factor for the adverse consequences of drinking often experienced by college students. Data from first-year undergraduate students (N = 145) who reported the frequency and quantity of their alcohol consumption, frequency of exercise, and problems they experienced as a result of their alcohol consumption. For this study, students who reported drinking alcohol in the last month (N = 71) were included. Exercise was not significantly correlated with alcohol variables (quantity, frequency, RAPI total, and RAPI subfactors); however, analyses revealed that exercise moderated the relationship between the frequency of alcohol consumption and two of the RAPI’s subfactors, Abuse/Dependence and Social Consequences. As participants reported higher amounts of exercise, they endorsed fewer Abuse/Dependence items (F (3, 67) = -.036, p = .003, sr2 = .126) and fewer Social Consequences (F (3, 67) = -.010, p = .042, sr2 = .061). The results suggest exercise may be a valuable safety factor against adverse consequences of drinking.
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