College Students' Use of Strategies to Hide Facial Flushing: A Target for Alcohol Education

Objective: Alcohol-related facial flushing occurs in individuals who are unable to metabolize ethanol effectively and is associated with increased cancer risk. This study describes college students' understanding of the meaning of flushing for how much alcohol a person should drink and their us...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of American college health 2020-11, Vol.68 (8), p.922-926
Main Authors: Chartier, Karen G, Tiarsmith, E. Clare, O'Shea, Taryn, Kendler, Kenneth S, Dick, Danielle M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alcohol
Alcohol education
Asian American Students
Cancer
College Students
Drinking
Ethanol
Ethnicity
Face
Flushing
Gender Differences
Inhibition
Knowledge Level
Meaning
Metabolism
Physiology
Racial Differences
White Students
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Summary:Objective: Alcohol-related facial flushing occurs in individuals who are unable to metabolize ethanol effectively and is associated with increased cancer risk. This study describes college students' understanding of the meaning of flushing for how much alcohol a person should drink and their use of over-the-counter medications and other strategies to reduce its visible effects. Participants: The sample includes 335 White and Asian college students who reported facial flushing after an alcoholic drink. Methods: Students completed an online survey in the spring of their junior year. Results: Most students reported that flushing had no special meaning for drinking or that they did not know what it meant. Six percent reported ever using strategies to hide facial flushing; they were mostly Asian, and those using these strategies drank more alcohol. Conclusions: Findings identify a need for targeted alcohol education with Asian college students who drink alcohol despite experiencing the flushing response.
ISSN:0744-8481
1940-3208
DOI:10.1080/07448481.2019.1640224