Does Alcohol Drinking Behaviour in First Year Students Relate to Executive Function Performance Under Stress?

Walker, Lucy (2017) Does Alcohol Drinking Behaviour in First Year Students Relate to Executive Function Performance Under Stress? Manchester Metropolitan University. (Unpublished)

Preview

Available under License In Copyright. Download (722kB) | Preview

Abstract

Executive Function (EF) is a mental process which involves the ability to plan and control behaviour; an important function for university students as it is linked to academic outcomes. Stress and alcohol drinking behaviour have previously been found to impact negatively upon executive function yet the combined effects of both of these factors has not been widely investigated. The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between alcohol drinking behaviour in first year undergraduate students and scores on a test of EF measuring aspects of working memory and cognitive fluidity after acute psychological stress was induced. Through experimental design 30 participants were recruited using opportunity sampling and asked to provide information about an average month of alcohol drinking. Stress was then induced through a task with time and performance elements provoking a stress response. EF was then assessed using the trail making task - a neuropsychological test of EF. Stress was measured subjectively and through the physiological measures of electro-dermal activity and heart rate in rest and throughout the stress procedure. Inconsistent with previous research the present study indicated no relationship in the whole sample, yet a positive correlation emerged in the male participants suggesting the more alcohol they consumed in an average month the worse they performed on a test of EF in stress. Future research needs to consider how results might vary dependant on year of study and type of stress