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Priscilla Lui co-authors three journal articles on alcohol use behaviors

Priscilla Lui co-authored three recently published journal articles that examine alcohol use among student athletes, pregaming behaviors, and the causal effects of everyday racial discrimination on stress, negative emotions, and alcohol craving. Read on to learn more about Dr. Lui's recent research.

1) Byron L. Zamboanga, Jennifer E. Merrill, Amie R. Newins, Janine V. Olthuis, Heidemarie Blumenthal, Kathryne Van Hedger, Lindsay S. Ham, Su Yeong Kim, Jessica K. Perrotte, P. Priscilla Lui, Dennis McChargue, and Brandy Piña-Watson. Comparing Drinking Game Motives, Behaviors, and Consequences among Varsity Athletes, Recreational Athletes, and Non-Student-Athletes: A Multisite University Study. Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. https://doi.org/10.15288/jsad.23-00128  

This study compared the drinking game behaviors of varsity, recreational, and non-student-athletes, focusing on frequency of participation in drinking games, typical drink consumption, negative consequences, and motives for playing drinking games. The study shed light on some risky drinking patterns and motives of recreational athletes who are often overlooked and under-resourced in health research and clinical practice. Recreational and varsity student-athletes could benefit from alcohol screening and prevention efforts, which can include provision of competitive and alcohol-free social activities and promotion of alcohol protective behavioral strategies to help reduce recreational athletes’ risk for harm while playing drinking games.

2) Lui, P. P., Gobrial, S., Stringer, E., & Jouriles, E. N. (2024). Effects of racial discrimination on stress, negative emotions, and alcohol craving: A registered report of a virtual reality experiment. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000636 

This study examined causal effects of everyday racial discrimination on stress, negative emotions, and alcohol craving, and tested indirect pathways by which discrimination-related experiences were linked to alcohol craving via stress and negative emotions. The study concluded that everyday racial discrimination—regardless of intensity level—is more stressful than daily hassles unrelated to race/racism, and recommends that future research should examine cumulative effects of racial discrimination, and understanding individual difference factors that moderate its immediate and delayed effects. 

3) Byron L. Zamboanga, Jennifer E. Merrill, Amie R. Newins, Janine V. Olthuis, Kathryne Van Hedger, Heidemarie Blumenthal, Su Yeong Kim, Timothy J. Grigsby, Jessica K. Perrotte, P. Priscilla Lui, Dennis McChargue. A national study on pregaming motives, frequency, consumption, and negative alcohol consequences among university students in the United States. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.110839 

This study examined how pregaming motives are related to pregaming behaviors and negative alcohol consequences. The study concluded that students who pregame to make the night more fun or to meet potential dating partners appear to be at particular risk for negative alcohol consequences. Motives may be modifiable, particularly via cognitive/behavioral strategies. The study findings suggest that specific motives may be appropriate intervention targets when trying to reduce pregaming behaviors and negative alcohol consequences.