Excessive drinking not only impacts young adults' physical health the following day, but also their emotional wellness, new research shows.
Led by the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka, the research looks at the relationship between alcohol use and next-day mood and wellbeing.
Lead author Jenna Gawn undertook the research as part of her Honours Degree at Otago's Department of Psychology, with supervisor Professor Tamlin Conner.
Jenna Gawn
"We found that young people who drank alcohol in excess reported lower positive mood and wellbeing the next day, compared to nights of no drinking," Ms Gawn says.
As per public health guidelines, excessive drinking is considered five or more drinks for women and six or more drinks for men.
"Interestingly, drinking within these guidelines did not impair mood and wellbeing."
More than 1300 young adults, with an average age of 19, completed two daily diary studies, over the course of one or two weeks, in which they reported how much alcohol they drank the previous night and how they felt the following day.
Alcohol consumption was split into three categories – low-risk (1-4 drinks for women, 1-5 for men), medium-risk (5-9 drinks for women, 6-11 for men) and high-risk (10+ drinks for women, 12+ for men).
In both studies, people who drank medium- and high-risk amounts reported having a significantly lower mood, vigour, and wellbeing, compared with a night of no drinking. They were also more confused and fatigued.
Low-risk drinking was indistinguishable from nights of no-drinking.
Co-author Professor Tamlin Conner, of the Department of Psychology, says this was surprising.
Professor Tamlin Conner
"We expected that low-risk drinking might impair next-day mood but found no evidence of that.
"We were also surprised there was no evidence of 'hangxiety' – feeling anxious or worried after a night of drinking."
With tertiary institution orientation weeks coming up, Ms Gawn hopes the research will help young people make more informed decisions when drinking.
"The next few weeks are full of exciting opportunities, however, making small changes to your drinking habits could benefit mood and wellbeing the next day.
"It's not just about having fun tonight, but also feeling good tomorrow."
Publication:
Cheers to tomorrow? Alcohol use predicts poorer mood and well-being the next day in young adults
Jenna Gawn, Jack R H Cooper, Benjamin D Fletcher, Tamlin S Conner
Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being
