The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Alcohol Use Among Adults in the United States.

OBJECTIVE

To synthesize published literature that has tested the relationship between physical activity and alcohol use.

DATA SOURCE

A systematic review of literature published between January 2005 and May 2015 was conducted by searching the databases: PsychInfo, Medline, and Pubmed.

STUDY INCLUSION AND EXCLUSION CRITERIA

Inclusion criteria: must have tested for the relationship between physical activity and alcohol use; used adult samples within the United States.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

utilized samples from outside the United States, adolescents, or alcohol dependent and heavy drinkers.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted from studies that achieved a quality score of 4 or greater. The following information was recorded for each study: sample characteristics, the variable that served as the predictor, study design, covariates included in analyses, and the direction/nature of the relationship.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The search captured 1036 unique articles, 16 of which were included in the final systematic review.

RESULTS

Nearly 88% of the studies with college students and 75% of studies with nonstudent adults reported a positive relationship between physical activity and alcohol use.

CONCLUSION

Research published in the past decade implies a positive relationship between physical activity and alcohol use. Findings have important implications for the design of health promotion programs targeting physical activity and alcohol use.