Life stressors, social resources, and late-life problem drinking.

Life stressors and social resources among late-middle-aged problem and nonproblem drinkers were studied. Problem drinkers (n?=?501) reported more negative life events, chronic stressors, and social resource deficits than did nonproblem drinkers (n?=?609). In a comparison of problem drinkers, men reported more ongoing stressors involving finances and friends and reported fewer resources from children, extended-family members, and friends than did women. Women who are problem drinkers reported more negative life events, more ongoing difficulties with spouses and extended-family members, and fewer resources from spouses. Among both the problem and nonproblem drinkers, more stressors were associated with fewer social resources, but only within certain life domains. Late-middle-aged adults' chronic stressors and social resources helped explain their drinking behavior, depression, and self-confidence even after sex, marital status, and negative life events were considered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Approach and avoidance coping responses among older problem and nonproblem drinkers.

The Coping Responses Inventory (CRI) was used to study coping among older problem and nonproblem drinkers. The CRI organizes coping efforts according to their focus (approach or avoidance) and method (cognitive or behavioral). Compared with nonproblem drinkers, older problem drinkers were more likely to use cognitive and behavioral avoidance responses to manage life stressors. Problem drinkers who experienced more negative life events and more severe stressors used both more approach and more avoidance coping. Those who had more financial and social resources relied more on approach and less on avoidance coping. Problem drinkers who relied more on avoidance coping tended to have more drinking problems and to report more depression and physical symptoms and less self-confidence. Positive reappraisal was associated with less depression and more self-confidence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Nonproblem drinking outcomes in adolescents treated for alcohol use disorders.

Change to nonproblem drinking was studied in 159 adolescents (70% male) presenting for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) treatment. A community sample (n=148, 47% male) also was assessed. Clinical participants had a current AUD at baseline; 1 year later, 17% remained abstinent, 60% had at least 1 AUD symptom (problem drinkers), and 23% were drinking but had no AUD symptoms (nonproblem drinkers). Drinking among the nonproblem drinkers decreased and was lower than in the problem drinkers. Nonproblem drinkers increased in psychosocial functioning and decreased in the number of illicit drugs used relative to problem drinkers and generally did not differ from the abstainers. The results suggest alternative views of treatment goals, relapse, and treatment outcome in adolescents. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

"Life stressors, social resources, and late-life problem drinking": Clarification.

Reports a clarification in the article by P. L. Brennan and R. H. Moos (Psychology and Aging, 1990[Dec], Vol 5[4], 491–501). The authors wish to note that their study was based on the same sample that was used in the research reported in the article by R. H. Moos et al (see record 1990-14961-001) and that this information was inadvertently deleted in the Brennan and Moos article. (The following abstract of the article by Brennan and Moos originally appeared in PA, Vol 78:10154.) Life stressors and social resources among late-middle-aged problem and nonproblem drinkers were studied. Problem drinkers (n?=?501) reported more negative life events, chronic stressors, and social resource deficits than did nonproblem drinkers (n?=?609). In a comparison of problem drinkers, men reported more ongoing stressors involving finances and friends and reported fewer resources from children, extended-family members, and friends than did women. Women who are problem drinkers reported more negative life events, more ongoing difficulties with spouses and extended-family members, and fewer resources from spouses. Among both the problem and nonproblem drinkers, more stressors were associated with fewer social resources, but only within certain life domains. Late-middle-aged adults' chronic stressors and social resources helped explain their drinking behavior, depression, and self-confidence even after sex, marital status, and negative life events were considered. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Older adult controlled drinkers and abstainers

Little is known about the lifetime course of alcohol problems, especially during late adulthood. Many individuals with a history of alcohol problems achieve remission of their symptoms through abstinence or controlled drinking. This study examined 135 older adults with a prior history of alcohol diagnoses who were symptom free for at least the past year. Two groups were identified based on their alcohol consumption within the past year: abstinent individuals (n = 92) and controlled drinkers (n = 43). The groups did not differ in age, racial composition, education, income, or years since their last alcohol-related symptom, but they did differ in gender composition, indices of alcoholism severity, history of formal and informal treatment, as well as lifetime alcohol consumption patterns. Abstinent individuals had more severe alcohol problems, consumed higher amounts of alcohol on drinking days, had more years of heavy alcohol consumption, and were more likely to have attended alcohol treatment and Alcoholics Anonymous (AA). The controlled drinkers had a longer history of moderate social drinking, and their current consumption habits appeared to be similar to symptom-free older adult drinkers. The results suggest that gender, alcoholism severity, history of formal and informal treatment, and past consumption patterns are associated with whether older adults with histories of alcoholism attain successful outcomes through abstinence or controlled drinking.     

"Approach and avoidance coping responses among older problem and nonproblem drinkers": Clarification.

Reports a clarification in the article by R. H. Moos et al (Psychology and Aging, 1990[Mar], Vol 5[1], 31–40). The authors wish to note that research reported in the article by P. L. Brennan and R. H. Moos (see record 1991-10154-001) was based on the sample used in the research reported by Moos et al and that this information was inadvertently deleted in the Brennan and Moos article. (The following abstract of the article by Moos et al originally appeared in PA, Vol 77:14961.) The Coping Responses Inventory (CRI) was used to study coping among older problem and nonproblem drinkers. The CRI organizes coping efforts according to their focus (approach or avoidance) and method (cognitive or behavioral). Compared with nonproblem drinkers, older problem drinkers were more likely to use cognitive and behavioral avoidance responses to manage life stressors. Problem drinkers who experienced more negative life events and more severe stressors used both more approach and more avoidance coping. Those who had more financial and social resources relied more on approach and less on avoidance coping. Problem drinkers who relied more on avoidance coping tended to have more drinking problems and to report more depression and physical symptoms and less self-confidence. Positive reappraisal was associated with less depression and more self-confidence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Behavioral economic analysis of natural resolution of drinking problems using IVR self-monitoring.

This study investigated whether a behavioral economic index of the value of rewards available over different time horizons predicted patterns of alcohol consumption shortly after natural resolution when the risk of relapse is high. Using a computerized interactive voice response (IVR) telephone system, untreated problem drinkers (n = 41) self-monitored their daily drinking, monetary expenditures, and surrounding contexts over intervals that ranged from a maximum of 42 to 128 days. Expanded Timeline Followback interviews were conducted before and after the IVR interval and 1 year after the baseline assessment. Stable resolutions generally and moderation resolutions specifically were associated with proportionally more preresolution expenditures on savings and less on alcohol compared to heavy drinking outcomes. The findings replicated and extended earlier research and suggested that the extent to which problem drinkers organized their behavior over longer intervals, even when drinking abusively, helped identify who resolved, including who transitioned to stable moderation. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Detection of K-ras point mutations in the supernatants of peritoneal and pleural effusions for diagnosis complementary to cytologic examination

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to examine the discriminatory ability of alcohol expectancies and drinking refusal self-efficacy and to identify the differential role of these constructs in social and problem drinkers. METHOD: Drinkers (N = 276) were self-selected from general (n = 185) and clinical (n = 91) populations to complete a 40-minute questionnaire that asked about alcohol expectancies, drinking refusal self-efficacy, consumption, degree of dependence and demographics. RESULTS: The results showed that in social drinkers both the expectancy and self-efficacy constructs were reliably able to discriminate between types of drinker. Expectancy was related to consumption in social drinkers, but did not appear to account for a significant proportion of the variance in problem drinkers. CONCLUSIONS: The findings are discussed in terms of a two-process model of drinking behavior that suggests that expectancies operate differently in social and problem drinkers.     

Relationships among alcohol availability, drinking location, alcohol consumption, and drinking problems in adolescents

We examined relationships among perceived alcohol availability, drinking location, alcohol consumption, and drinking problems. Subjects were 3,372 adolescent drinkers, ages 16-18, who participated in the Communities Mobilizing for Change on Alcohol Project baseline survey. Mixed-model regression was employed to identify predictors of alcohol consumption and drinking consequences. Perceived alcohol availability was significantly associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption for males. Drinking in a public location with higher levels of alcohol consumption for females. Results underscore the importance of youth alcohol assessibility.     

Binge drinking in later life: Comparing young-old and old-old social drinkers.

Although widespread binge drinking has been documented in younger groups, few studies have examined this behavior among older individuals. We assessed differences in bingeing between young-old (n = 189) and old-old (n = 137) social drinkers. Of those who reported drinking, no significant age or gender differences were uncovered in alcohol consumption (M = 6.6. SD = 9.4) or degree of alcohol-related problems (M = 12.2, SD = 3. 1). Logistic regression analysis showed that old-old adults were 15.7 times less likely to binge drink than the young-old-, older women overall were 19.7 times less likely to binge relative to older men. Also, correlations were more diverse among old-old adults. The need for better understanding of bingeing among elders is discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Coping, expectancies, and alcohol abuse: A test of social learning formulations.

The model proposed here postulates that alcohol abuse can be predicted from a causal chain that includes alcohol consumption and "drinking to cope" as proximal determinants and general coping skills and positive alcohol expectancies as more distal determinants. To evaluate this model in a way that permits simultaneous consideration of its multiple determinants and control for demographic influences, path analytic techniques were applied to data from problem and nonproblem drinkers drawn from a general population sample. The hypothesized model accounted for significant variance in abuse status. Drinking to cope emerged as the most powerful predictor, exerting influence via direct and indirect pathways. Coping styles indicative of avoidance of emotion emerged as more important predictors of abuse than problem-focused coping. The predictive value of coping was moderated by alcohol expectancies such that avoidant styles of coping with emotion were predictive of abuse status only among drinkers expressing greater belief in alcohol's positive reinforcing properties. Findings both support and refine the social learning perspective on alcohol abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Reasons for abstaining or limiting drinking: A developmental perspective.

The cross-sectional and longitudinal relations between reasons for abstaining or limiting drinking (RALD) and abstention were examined in a 16-year longitudinal study (N = 489) of college students with and without a family history of alcohol problems. Results indicated that RALD based upon upbringing or religiosity were associated with increased rates of abstention, whereas RALD based upon perceived or experienced negative consequences of drinking were associated with lower rates of abstention and increased alcohol consumption among drinkers. In addition, changes in RALD over time coincided with alcohol consumption transitions. Abstainers who began drinking after turning 21 reported a decrease in the importance of RALD associated with loss of control and upbringing or religiosity compared to abstainers who continued to abstain after turning 21. Conversely, drinkers who began abstaining after leaving college reported an increase in the importance of RALD associated with loss of control and upbringing or religiosity compared to drinkers who continued to drink after leaving college. Examining the reciprocal influences of RALD on drinking outcomes extends previous research and may inform prevention and intervention programs among college drinkers. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Role of impulsivity in the relationship between depression and alcohol problems among emerging adult college drinkers.

Depression is common among college students and higher levels of depression are associated with greater alcohol-related problems. However, depression is frequently not found to be directly associated with more alcohol use. This study examined whether various aspects of impulsivity (negative urgency, lack of premeditation, lack of perseverance, sensation seeking, and delay discounting) and drinking to cope with negative affect help to account for the relationship between depression and alcohol problems among emerging adult college drinkers who reported at least a minimal level of depressive symptoms. In this cross-sectional study, 143 emerging adult (between 18 and 25 years old) female (69.9%, n = 100) and male (30.1%, n = 43) college drinkers with at least minimal depressive symptoms completed measures of depression, alcohol use and problems, drinking to cope, and impulsivity. A multiple mediation analysis revealed that only negative urgency and drinking to cope partially mediated the depression-alcohol problems relationship. Moderated mediation analyses revealed that impulsivity-related constructs did not significantly interact with drinking to cope to increase alcohol problems. It appears that alcohol use is particularly problematic for students with elevated depression, and this is partly attributable to depression's association with negative urgency, in addition to its association with drinking to cope. Our findings suggest that students who suffer from depression may engage in problematic drinking behavior in part because negative affect is detrimental to their short-term impulse control and decision making, independent of maladaptive attempts to regulate affect through drinking to cope. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Problem drinking and the workplace: An individualized approach to prevention.

The present study evaluated the efficacy of a brief, individualized, alcohol abuse prevention program designed to reduce problem drinking within the workplace environment. One hundred fifty-five randomly selected employees of a medium-sized company in the food and retail service% sector participated in a 6-month controlled worksite prevention trial. Female problem drinkers who received the intervention were more likely than those in the no-treatment control group to reduce alcohol-related negative consequences at follow-up. In addition, there was a significant multivariate treatment effect, suggesting that participants who received the intervention were significantly more likely to reduce drinking frequency at follow-up. Evaluation of attrition rates and reports of participant satisfaction suggest that the intervention was effective in engaging participants at all levels of alcohol consumption. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Predictive factors for outcome of treatment for alcohol problems

Two samples of problem drinkers were followed up 2 and 4 years after they completed treatment. The first consisted of 72 men and 16 women admitted to a program for alcoholics (the inpatient sample), and the second, of 57 men and 35 women who participated in a program of outpatient treatment (the outpatient sample). At start of treatment, the outpatient sample, was generally characterized by a higher degree of social integration and more moderate alcohol problems than those found in the inpatient sample. These differences were sustained during the part of the follow-up period for which comparative data existed. In both samples it was possible to identify subgroups whose alcohol consumption throughout the observation period did not exceed average consumption in a comparative group of the Norwegian population. The most important predictive factors for alcohol consumption in the inpatient sample were degree of social integration, consumption before start of treatment, and sex. In the outpatient sample the most important factors were level of consumption and relative contribution of heavy drinking to the drinking pattern before start of treatment and the client's own goals as regards to alcohol. In both samples there was a close connection between alcohol consumed, total situation, and individual degree of satisfaction. For both groups, less frequent drinking and reduction of heavy drinking were most important for feeling satisfied with the drinking outcome. The therapeutic implications of the qualitative changes in drinking patterns are discussed.     

Using alcohol expectancies to predict adolescent drinking behavior after one year.

An accumulating literature has shown the influence of childhood experiences associated with alcohol use on later drinking practices. Recent studies have suggested that alcohol-related expectancy may serve as an intervening variable to connect these early experiences with the later, proximal decision to drink when opportunities for actual alcohol consumption arise. Those studies, however, have collected expectancy and drinking data concurrently, whereas the present study for the first time reports on the power of expectancies measured in early adolescents (seventh and eighth grades) to predict self-reported drinking onset and drinking behavior measured a full year later. Results show that five of seven expectancy scores readily discriminated between nonproblem drinkers and those subsequently beginning problem drinking and accounted for a large portion of the variance in a continuous quantity/frequency index and a problem drinking index. The strength of these time-lagged relations strengthens the case for inferring that expectancies have causal power on drinking behavior and suggests prevention strategies. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The relationships between high-risk and problem drinking and the occurrence of work injuries and related absences

A review of studies on the relationship between alcohol and work injuries revealed that the evidence is contradictory and that many of the studies contain methodological flaws. The present study aimed to determine whether there are relationships between problem drinking and high alcohol consumption and outcomes such as work injuries and related absences. The sample consisted of 833 employees at an industrial worksite. Problem drinking was measured by the Mortimer-Filkins test, while alcohol consumption was measured by a 7-day retrospective diary. Work injury data were obtained from medical reports completed at the worksite medical center, while absences data were obtained from company records. Chi-square analyses revealed significant relationships between problem drinking and work injuries and injury-related absences, but not between high alcohol consumption and work injuries and related absences. Logistic regression analysis revealed that no variables were significant predictors of work injuries. However, when uninjured subjects were excluded, a second analysis revealed that Mortimer-Filkins test scores, recent stressful life events, age and job satisfaction were significant predictors of two or more injuries. Injured subjects were almost twice as likely to have two or more injuries if they had high numbers of recent stressful life events and low levels of job satisfaction. Logistic regression analysis revealed that age, Mortimer-Filkins test categories and job satisfaction significantly predicted injury-related absences. Problem drinkers were 2.7 times more likely to have injury-related absences than non-problem drinkers, and subjects with low levels of job satisfaction were 2.2 times more likely than others to have injury-related absences. The implications of the results for workplace alcohol policies and programs are discussed.     

Reasons for drinking alcohol: Relationships with DSM-IV alcohol diagnoses and alcohol consumption in a community sample.

The relationship between self-reported reasons for drinking and the DSM-IV alcohol use disorders and alcohol consumption was examined. Participants were 777 heavy drinking community residents who completed the Alcohol Use Disorders and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule (B. F. Grant and D. Hasin, 1992) and a self-report assessment battery. Drinking to reduce negative affect was greater among drinkers with a current DSM-IV alcohol dependence diagnosis compared with drinkers with no DSM-IV alcohol use disorder. The DSM-IV alcohol abuse and the no-diagnosis groups did not differ in reasons for drinking. A positive association was demonstrated between drinking to reduce negative affect and frequency of intoxication. Drinking for enjoyment was positively associated with the frequency of binge drinking, frequency of intoxication, and average daily ethanol consumption. However, the relationship between drinking for enjoyment and average daily ethanol consumption was stronger among those with no alcohol disorder compared to those with DSM-IV alcohol dependence. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)