Moderation effect of emotion regulation on the relationship between social anxiety, drinking motives and alcohol related problems
Abstract Abstract Background: Accumulated evidence suggests that individuals with social anxiety disorder (SAD) are at particular risk of developing alcohol use disorder (AUD). Yet, little is known about the mechanisms under this high comorbidity. This study aimed to elucidate the process of development of alcohol related problems (ARP) among individuals with elevated social anxiety (SA). We examined the moderation effect of difficulties in emotion regulation (DER) on the relationship between cognitive-behavioral-physiological symptoms of SA, coping and conformity motives and ARP. Methods: In a sample of university students (N = 647) in South Korea, the proposed model in which fear of negative evaluation (FNE), social avoidance, and concerns over physiological symptoms (CPS) were supposed to affect ARP with the mediation of coping and conformity motives was tested. Furthermore, DER was hypothesized to moderate each meditational path. Results: Results showed that FNE and CPS predicted ARP with the mediation of conformity and coping motives, respectively. As hypothesized, each path was moderated by DER. Conclusions: Findings suggest that coping and conformity motives to cope with cognitive and physiological symptoms of SA were related to ARP. In addition, individuals with high levels of DER were prone to exhibit more ARP.