A Commentary on Drinking to Cope During the COVID‐19 Pandemic: The Role of External and Internal Factors in Coping Motive Pathways to Alcohol Use, Solitary Drinking, and Alcohol Problems

Individuals with alcohol problems have well-described disturbances of sleep, but the development of these disturbances both before and after the onset of problem drinking is poorly understood. This chapter first discusses sleep physiology and its measurement in humans. It then examines the functions of sleep and its role in development. Next, it reviews recent research on the relationship between sleep and alcohol use and related problems. Whereas sleep problems (e.g., difficulties falling or staying asleep) increase the risk of early onset of alcohol use and related problems, sleep rhythmicity promotes resilience to the development of alcohol use disorder and problem substance use. Based on existing research, this chapter proposes a theoretical model of sleep and alcohol use, highlighting the role of self-regulatory processes as mediators of this relationship.

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Drinking to Cope Motivations as a Mediator of the Relationship Between Sexual Coercion Victimization and Alcohol Use Among College Women: The Role of Depressive Symptoms

Violence Against Women ◽

10.1177/1077801218796334 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 25 (6) ◽

pp. 721-742 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sarah J. Ehlke ◽

Michelle L. Kelley

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Sexual Coercion ◽

Online Survey ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Drinking To Cope ◽

Regulation Strategies ◽

The Relationship

This cross-sectional study examined whether depressive symptoms strengthened the relationship between different forms of sexual coercion victimization and drinking to cope motivations, which was hypothesized to influence alcohol use. Participants were 214 female undergraduates who completed an online survey. Participants who experienced any lifetime sexual coercion and reported higher depressive symptoms were the most likely to report drinking to cope motivations, which in turn were associated with alcohol use. Depressive symptoms did not strengthen the relationship between specific forms of sexual coercion, drinking to cope, and alcohol use. Increasing emotion regulation strategies among sexual coercion victims may reduce drinking.

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Alcohol use in late adolescence and early adulthood: The role of generalized anxiety disorder and drinking to cope motives

Drug and Alcohol Dependence ◽

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.04.044 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 204 ◽

pp. 107480 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Maddy L. Dyer ◽

Jon Heron ◽

Matthew Hickman ◽

Marcus R. Munafò

Keyword(s):

Anxiety Disorder ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽

Early Adulthood ◽

Late Adolescence ◽

Generalized Anxiety ◽

Drinking To Cope

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Insecure attachment styles, relationship-drinking contexts, and marital alcohol problems: Testing the mediating role of relationship-specific drinking-to-cope motives.

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors ◽

10.1037/adb0000064 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 696-705 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Ash Levitt ◽

Kenneth E. Leonard

Keyword(s):

Attachment Styles ◽

Alcohol Problems ◽

Insecure Attachment ◽

Drinking To Cope ◽

Mediating Role

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Drinking to cope during the COVID-19 pandemic: The role of external and internal stress-related factors in coping motive pathways to alcohol use, solitary drinking, and alcohol problems

10.31234/osf.io/8vfp9 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jeffrey Wardell ◽

Tyler Kempe ◽

Karli K. Rapinda ◽

Alanna N. Single ◽

Elena Bilevicius ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Social Connectedness ◽

Alcohol Problems ◽

Path Model ◽

Living Alone ◽

Income Loss ◽

Related Factors ◽

Empirical Examination ◽

Drinking To Cope ◽

Coping Motives

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in massive disruptions to society, to the economy, and to daily life. Some people may turn to alcohol to cope with stress during the pandemic, which may put them at risk for heavy drinking and alcohol-related harms. Research is needed to identify the factors that are relevant for coping-motivated drinking during these extraordinary circumstances to inform interventions. This study provides an empirical examination of coping motive pathways to alcohol problems during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (N = 320; 54.6% male; mean age 32 years old) were Canadian adult drinkers who completed an online survey assessing work- and home-related factors, psychological factors, and alcohol-related outcomes over the past 30 days, covering a time period soon after the initiation of the COVID-19 emergency response. The results of a theory-informed path model showed that living with children under 18, greater depression, and lower social connectedness each predicted unique variance in past 30-day coping motives, which in turn predicted increased past 30-day alcohol use (controlling for pre-COVID-19 alcohol use reported retrospectively). Income loss was associated with increased alcohol use and living alone was associated with increased solitary drinking (controlling for pre-COVID-19 levels), but these associations were not mediated by coping motives. Increased alcohol use, increased solitary drinking, and coping motives for drinking were all independently associated with past 30-day alcohol problems, and indirect paths to alcohol problems from living with children, depression, social connectedness, income loss, and living alone were all supported. Findings provide insight into coping-motivated drinking early in the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight the need for longitudinal research to establish longer-term outcomes of drinking to cope.

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Explicit drinking identity and alcohol problems: The mediating role of drinking to cope

Addictive Behaviors ◽

10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.07.031 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 76 ◽

pp. 88-94 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Angelo M. DiBello ◽

Mary Beth Miller ◽

Chelsie M. Young ◽

Clayton Neighbors ◽

Kristen P. Lindgren

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Problems ◽

Drinking To Cope ◽

Mediating Role

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Young Adult Women and Alcohol-Related Problems: The Key Role of Multidimensional Feminine Norms

Substance Abuse Research and Treatment ◽

10.1177/1178221819888650 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 14 ◽

pp. 117822181988865

Author(s):

Derek Kenji Iwamoto ◽

Vivian W. Mui

Keyword(s):

Young Adult ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Problems ◽

Heavy Episodic Drinking ◽

Future Research ◽

Adult Women ◽

Young Adult Women ◽

Feminine Norms ◽

Alcohol Related Problems

Young adult college women are closing the gender gap with respect to heavy episodic drinking and alcohol-related problems. Accordingly, it is important to understand and examine the factors that help explain within-group differences in problematic drinking patterns among this vulnerable population. One promising theoretically-relevant factor that appears to explain problematic alcohol use among young adult women is conformity to multidimensional feminine norms. Feminine norms are the beliefs and/or expectations of what it means to be a woman. This review paper identifies the current trends and limitations of research examining the role of feminine norms on alcohol use among young adult women in college. The review of the literature suggests that relationship between feminine norms and alcohol problems is complex in that there are costs and benefits for endorsing and opposing different feminine norms. Women who endorse appearance and relational feminine norms such as striving to be thin, focusing on their appearance, and maintaining relationships are at heighten risk of engaging in heavy episodic drinking and alcohol problems. Women who endorse feminine norms including maintaining sexual relationships with one partner, endorse the belief that one should be modest, and sweet, and nice, and upholding domestic values are less likely to report alcohol problems. Clinical and future research recommendations are provided.

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The role of standardized instruments in identifying older adults with alcohol problems

International Psychogeriatrics ◽

10.1017/s1041610216001587 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 351-352 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jürgen Rehm ◽

Jakob Manthey

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Alcohol Use ◽

Laboratory Tests ◽

Alcohol Use Disorder ◽

Alcohol Problems ◽

Standardized Assessment ◽

Related Factors ◽

Comprehensive Review ◽

Age Related

Taylor et al. (2014) raise an important issue concerning the detection of alcohol problems in older adults. The authors identify a number of age-related factors playing a role in the detection of alcohol problems, such as stigma, the concept of alcohol use disorder diagnoses and their standardized assessment, and drinking levels. They list a comprehensive review of tools for assessing alcohol problems among older adults, including laboratory tests, questionnaires, and interviews.

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An Examination of Pathways From Childhood Victimization to Violence: The Role of Early Aggression and Problematic Alcohol Use

Violence and Victims ◽

10.1891/0886-6708.21.6.675 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 675-690 ◽

Cited By ~ 80

Author(s):

Cathy Spatz Widom ◽

Amie M. Schuck ◽

Helene Raskin White

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Child Maltreatment ◽

Aggressive Behavior ◽

Structural Equation Models ◽

Alcohol Problems ◽

Control Group ◽

Childhood Victimization ◽

Problematic Alcohol ◽

Problematic Alcohol Use

Using prospective data from a cohort design study involving documented cases of child abuse and neglect and a matched control group, we examine two potential pathways between childhood victimization and violent criminal behavior: early aggressive behavior and problematic drinking. Structural equation models, including controls for race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, parental alcoholism, and parental criminality, revealed different pathways for men and women. For men, child maltreatment has direct and indirect (through aggressive behavior and problematic alcohol use) paths to violence. For women, problematic alcohol use mediates the relationship between childhood victimization and violence, and, independent of child maltreatment, early aggression leads to alcohol problems, which lead to violence. Interventions for victims of childhood maltreatment need to recognize the role of early aggressive behavior and alcohol problems as risk factors for subsequent violence.

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