Autistic Trait Dimensions and Alcohol Use in College Attending Emerging Adults
AI Summary
Large college sample (N=1,854; ages 18-25) completed ASQ and AUDIT to examine autism trait relations with alcohol use.
Social skills difficulties and strong adherence to routines were associated with lower alcohol consumption and dependence respectively, while imagination and pattern fixation predicted greater dependence.
Findings indicate autism dimensions vary in alcohol risk and highlight need for research on mental health mechanisms influencing maladaptive substance use.
Subst Use Misuse. 2026 Jul 3:1-13. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2026.2682315. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Emerging adults on the autism spectrum struggle with a variety of social and environmental stressors, putting them at a higher risk for alcohol use problems (Brosnan & Adams, 2020). However, findings examining the relationship between autism and alcohol use outcomes remain conflicting, suggesting the need to examine specific dimensions of autism in relation to alcohol use. Addressing this gap, the current study examines how dimensions of autism, including social skills, switching, routines, imagination, and pattern fixation, may relate to alcohol use in a non-clinical sample of college students.
METHODS: A sample of 1,854 college students between ages 18-25 (Mage = 18.99, SD = 1.28; 56.4% Hispanic/Latine; 67.3% female, 30.2% male, 2.5% transgender or nonbinary) completed the Autism Spectrum Quotient (ASQ; Hoekstra et al., 2011) and the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT; Saunders et al., 1993).
RESULTS: Tests of direct effects models indicated that individuals with social skills difficulties reported lower alcohol consumption. Individuals with greater adherence to routines reported lower alcohol dependence. In contrast, individuals high in imagination and pattern fixation reported greater alcohol use dependence.
DISCUSSION: Findings suggest that specific dimensions of autism may vary in predicting alcohol consumption and dependence among college-attending emerging adults. However, additional research is needed on specific dimensions of autism in relation to mental health outcomes that could impact maladaptive substance use to better understand such outcomes.
Probl Sotsialnoi Gig Zdravookhranenniiai Istor Med. 2026 Jun 27;34(0):520-525. doi: 10.32687/0869-866X-2026-34-s1-520-525.ABSTRACTEnsuring adequate staffing levels for psychiatrists-narcologists and district psychiatrists-narcologists amid the observed shortage of healthcare...
Probl Sotsialnoi Gig Zdravookhranenniiai Istor Med. 2026 Jun 27;34(0):400-405. doi: 10.32687/0869-866X-2026-34-s1-400-405.ABSTRACTIn the young population, a persistent trend toward an increase in functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs)...
Probl Sotsialnoi Gig Zdravookhranenniiai Istor Med. 2026 Jun 27;34(0):526-531. doi: 10.32687/0869-866X-2026-34-s1-526-531.ABSTRACTMaritime service is a challenging profession. In addition to demanding physical labor under real risks...
Probl Sotsialnoi Gig Zdravookhranenniiai Istor Med. 2026 Jun 27;34(0):513-519. doi: 10.32687/0869-866X-2026-34-s1-513-519.ABSTRACTIn the context of contemporary globalization, rural residents frequently encounter multiple barriers when attempting to...
J Sports Sci. 2026 Jul 5:1-14. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2026.2698229. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTSport fans can experience a variety of dysfunctional emotions and maladaptive behaviors, including anger,...
