Which of the following best describes how binge drinking differs from moderate drinking in the context of stress and psychological health?

• A. Both binge drinking and moderate drinking have identical effects on stress and psychological health.
• B. Binge drinking is associated with improved stress management compared to moderate drinking.
• C. Binge drinking involves consuming a large amount of alcohol in a short period, often leading to impaired judgment and increased stress, while moderate drinking refers to consuming alcohol in low amounts that typically do not disrupt psychological functioning.
• D. Moderate drinking always leads to more negative psychological outcomes than binge drinking.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the definitions of binge drinking and moderate drinking. Binge drinking is characterized by consuming a large quantity of alcohol in a short time, while moderate drinking involves consuming smaller, controlled amounts over a longer period.
2. Step 2: Consider the psychological and physiological effects of binge drinking. It often leads to impaired judgment, increased stress levels, and negative impacts on psychological health due to the rapid intake of alcohol.
3. Step 3: Examine the effects of moderate drinking on stress and psychological health. Moderate drinking typically does not disrupt psychological functioning and may sometimes be associated with less stress compared to binge drinking.
4. Step 4: Compare the two patterns of drinking in terms of their impact on stress management and psychological outcomes. Binge drinking tends to worsen stress and psychological health, whereas moderate drinking usually has minimal or no negative effects.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the best description is that binge drinking involves consuming large amounts quickly, leading to impaired judgment and increased stress, while moderate drinking involves low amounts that generally do not disrupt psychological health.