Problem drinking behavior in two community-based samples of adults: influence of gender, coping, loneliness, and depression.

The authors examined the extent to which the relationships among coping, loneliness, depression, and 3 problematic drinking behaviors varied as a function of gender in 2 community-based samples of young adults (19-39 years old). Regression analyses revealed that (a) after controlling for the quantity and frequency of alcohol typically consumed, the 3 psychosocial variables were significantly related to frequency of intoxication, binge drinking, and drink tossing behaviors; (b) not all predictors were related to all problem drinking behaviors; (c) the predictors that were significant varied as a function of the 2 cohorts; and (d) with the exception of frequency of intoxication in the younger cohort, the associations between the predictors and problematic drinking behaviors tended to be similar for men and women. Future directions for research are discussed.