Ready, Set, Jump: Sensation Seekers, Alcohol and GPA Within College Students

Indianapolis, IN

Research reveals higher levels of sensation seeking is related to higher levels of alcohol use (Hittner & Swickert, 2006). Compared to low sensation-seekers, high sensation-seekers reported significantly greater levels of alcohol use and were less likely to perceive danger while under the influence of alcohol. The study utilized a group of college women were identified based on high and low scores on the sensation-seeking trait. The personality trait of sensation seeking appears to play an important mediating role in alcohol use in young women. In addition, alcohol use is related to lower Grade Point Average (GPA; Singleton & Wolfson, 2009). In general, students who tend to have a high frequency of alcohol use and greater amount consumed displayed a decrease in academic performance. The purpose of the current study is to examine the relation between sensation seeking, alcohol consumption, and GPA among college women. This study used female college students (N=383) during a 10-week paper and web-based survey on alcohol consumption. The participants then granted permission for access to their academic records for grade point average analysis. Sensation seeking was significantly related to patterns of alcohol consumption. In addition, sensation seeking and alcohol consumption patterns related to GPA. Therefore, it is possible that an individual's GPA can be affected by drinking behaviors based on the counterparts of missed classes, late assignments, and lack of energy. Findings then further suggest that sensation seekers are more likely to consume more frequently and quantitatively than low sensation seekers potentially leading to a decrease in an overall academic performance of grade point average. Alcohol interventions should consider utilizing this information when tailoring the materials to female college students.