Heavy drinking could be red flag for sexual confusion among college students

New York - Bisexuals and students who reported sexual confusion, or what researchers dubbed ‘flux,’ were among the heaviest drinkers, admitting to uncontrolled drinking behavior to relieve anxiety and depression more so than their heterosexual or homosexual counterparts, a study has found.

Researchers from the University said students who identified themselves as either heterosexual or homosexual drank at roughly the same rate and for similar reasons -- for pleasure and in social situations –but respondents who said they didn’t fit tidily into either category tended to report more alcohol misuse.

The study was published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, the New York Daily News reported.

More than 2,000 college students were asked to report their sexual orientation, attraction and sexual behavior, frequency of alcohol use, and reasons for drinking over the course of four years.

Students fell into different sexual groups that included minorities like ‘mostly homosexual,’ ‘bisexual,’ and ‘mostly heterosexual.’

In addition, the study also found that women were more open about admitting to same-sex attraction compared to men, who tended to be more rigid in their definitions.

Researchers say the findings could be used to help improve support programs for sexual minority groups. -