A longitudinal study of the effects of coping motives,negative affect and drinking level on drinking problems among college students |
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| Authors: | Stephen Armeli Erik Dranoff Howard Tennen Carol Shaw Austad Carolyn R Fallahi Sarah Raskin |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Psychology, Fairleigh Dickinson University, 1000 River Road, Teaneck, NJ 07666, USA;2. Department of Community Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, MC 6325, Farmington, CT 06030-6325, USA;3. Department of Psychological Science, Central Connecticut State University, Marcus White 211, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050, USA;4. Department of Psychology and Neuroscience Program, Trinity College, 300 Summit Street, Hartford, CT 06106, USA |
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| Abstract: | We examined among college students the interactive effects of drinking to cope (DTC) motivation, anxiety and depression symptoms, and drinking level in predicting drinking-related problems (DRPs). Using an Internet-based survey, participants (N = 844, 53% women) first reported on their drinking motives and monthly for up to three months, they reported on their drinking level, anxiety, depression, and DRPs. We found a three-way interaction between DTC motivation and average levels of drinking and anxiety (but not depression) in predicting DRPs. Specifically, among individuals with stronger DTC motives, higher mean levels of anxiety were associated with a stronger positive association between mean drinking levels and DRPs. We did not find three-way interactions in the models examining monthly changes in anxiety, depression, and drinking in predicting monthly DRPs. However, individuals high in DTC motivation showed a stronger positive association between changes in drinking level and DRPs. The results are discussed in terms of mechanisms related to attention-allocation and self-control resource depletion. |
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| Keywords: | drinking motives anxiety depression drinking-related problems |
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