Exercise and coping-oriented alcohol use among a trauma-exposed sample.

The present investigation examined the relation between exercise intensity and alcohol use coping motives among trauma-exposed adults. Participants were 114 adults (58 women; M(age)=22.31 years, SD=8.89) who reported exposure to at least one traumatic event (American Psychiatric Association, 2000) and alcohol use in the past 30 days. Partially consistent with expectation, engagement in vigorous-intensity activities (≥6 resting metabolic rate [MET] score) demonstrated a significant, incremental (negative) association with alcohol use coping motives. This incremental association was observed after accounting for current alcohol consumption, non-criterion alcohol use motives, anxiety sensitivity, posttraumatic stress symptom severity, as well as engagement in light- and moderate-intensity activities (<6 resting MET score). Results are discussed in terms of better understanding the association between vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise and coping-oriented alcohol use among trauma-exposed individuals. Published by Elsevier Ltd.