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Cited by 117Substance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesAlcohol Consumption and Health EffectsStudent Stress and Coping

The roles of negative affect and coping motives in the relationship between alcohol use and alcohol-related-problems among college students

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Martens, Matthew P., Neighbors, Clayton, Lewis, Melissa A., Lee, Christine M., Oster-Aaland, Laura, Larimer, Mary E.·2008·Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
DOI 10.15288/jsad.2008.69.412PMC PMC4942848
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Although studies have consistently indicated that among college students alcohol use and the likelihood of experiencing alcohol-related problems are related, it is possible that additional factors strengthen the magnitude of this relationship. The purpose of the present study was to assess the moderating effect of two such factors: negative affect and coping drinking motives. METHOD: Data were collected on 316 college students at a midsized, public university in the upper Midwest who reported using alcohol. RESULTS: Findings indicated that both negative affect and coping drinking motives moderated the alcohol use-alcohol problems relationship. The three-way interaction indicated that the strongest relationship between alcohol use and alcohol-related problems existed for individuals high in both negative affect and coping drinking motives. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that college students high in negative affect and coping drinking motives are particularly at risk for experiencing problems as a result of their alcohol use, indicating that clinicians should consider screening for these factors when conducting alcohol-related prevention and intervention efforts.

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  • Consuming alcohol for its anxiolytic properties is a risk factor for alcohol use disorders (AUDs).

    “Consuming alcohol for its anxiolytic properties is a risk factor for alcohol use disorders (AUDs) [8,15].”

    From Does Relationship-Contingent Self-Esteem Play a Role in the Stress to Impaired Control Pathway to Alcohol-Related Problems in a College Student Sample? (2023) · cites this paper as [15]

    The Method section defines coping motives as drinking to reduce negative feelings, including feeling nervous. The Discussion links drinking for coping reasons only indirectly and tentatively to increased risk of an alcohol-use disorder, through drinking alone or at home. The paper’s own Results concern alcohol-related problems among college students, not whether drinking for anxiety relief predicts AUDs. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Authors
Martens, M. P., Neighbors, C., Lewis, M. A., Lee, C. M., Oster-Aaland, L., & Larimer, M. E.
Affiliations
  • University of Memphis (US)
  • Department of Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Research, University of Memphis, 105E Ball Hall, Memphis, Tennessee 38152
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
Publisher
Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc.
Published
2008-05
Volume
69
Issue
3
Pages
412-419
ISSN
  • 1937-1888 (ISSN-L)
  • 1938-4114
DOI
10.15288/jsad.2008.69.412
PMC
PMC4942848
OpenAlex
W2155913414
Cited by
117
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 9 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 3
FWCI
2.47
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (U01AA014742, U18AA015885, T32AA007455)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Student Stress and Coping
Keywords
negative affect, alcohol consumption, alcohol-related problems, university students, moderation, three-way interaction, alcohol screening, alcohol prevention
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Adolescent, Adult, Affective Symptoms, Alcohol Drinking, Alcoholism, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Male, Mass Screening, Motivation, Risk Factors, Statistics as Topic, Students

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