Caitlin Wolford-Clevenger1, Clara Bradizza2, Dominic Parrott3, Karen L Cropsey4, Gregory L Stuart5. 1. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Volker Hall L107, 1670 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35071, United States. Electronic address: cclevenger@uabmc.edu. 2. School of Social Work, University at Buffalo, Parker Hall, Buffalo, NY 14214-8004, United States. Electronic address: bradizza@buffalo.edu. 3. Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, P.O Box 5010, Atlanta, GA 30302-5010, United States. Electronic address: parrott@gsu.edu. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Volker Hall L107, 1670 University Blvd., Birmingham, AL 35071, United States. Electronic address: kcropsey@uabmc.edu. 5. Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, 310C Austin Peay Bldg, Knoxville, TN 37996-0900, United States. Electronic address: gstuart@utk.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: Theory has identified alcohol expectancies as a facilitating factor in the association between problematic drinking and suicidal ideation. In the first test of this question, we explored whether the impact of problematic drinking on suicidal ideation depended on alcohol expectancies. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional, observational, survey data from a convenience sample of 444 individuals court-ordered to domestic violence intervention programs (69.5% non-Hispanic White; 78.6% Male-identified; Mage = 32.53, SDage = 10.10). RESULTS: Parallel analysis and exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure of the Effects of Drinking Alcohol Scale, including alcohol expectancies related to 1) disinhibition and negative mood, 2) positive mood, and 3) physical and cognitive effects. Multiple linear regression employing bootstrapping procedures tested the moderating effects of these expectancies on the association between problematic drinking and suicidal ideation, while controlling for gender and depressive symptoms. Problematic drinking was negatively associated with suicidal ideation at low levels of disinhibition and negative mood expectancies, and this association became more positive as these expectancies increased. Problematic drinking was negatively associated with suicidal ideation at high levels of positive mood and became more positive as these expectancies decreased. DISCUSSION: These preliminary findings suggest that expectancies related to the mood-altering and disinhibiting effects of alcohol may play a role in whether problematic drinking facilitates suicidal thinking. Future intensive longitudinal designs are needed to test whether this moderation is replicated during periods of acute alcohol intoxication and when other psychiatric symptoms are controlled.
PURPOSE: Theory has identified alcohol expectancies as a facilitating factor in the association between problematic drinking and suicidal ideation. In the first test of this question, we explored whether the impact of problematic drinking on suicidal ideation depended on alcohol expectancies. METHODS: We conducted a secondary analysis of cross-sectional, observational, survey data from a convenience sample of 444 individuals court-ordered to domestic violence intervention programs (69.5% non-Hispanic White; 78.6% Male-identified; Mage = 32.53, SDage = 10.10). RESULTS: Parallel analysis and exploratory factor analysis revealed a three-factor structure of the Effects of Drinking Alcohol Scale, including alcohol expectancies related to 1) disinhibition and negative mood, 2) positive mood, and 3) physical and cognitive effects. Multiple linear regression employing bootstrapping procedures tested the moderating effects of these expectancies on the association between problematic drinking and suicidal ideation, while controlling for gender and depressive symptoms. Problematic drinking was negatively associated with suicidal ideation at low levels of disinhibition and negative mood expectancies, and this association became more positive as these expectancies increased. Problematic drinking was negatively associated with suicidal ideation at high levels of positive mood and became more positive as these expectancies decreased. DISCUSSION: These preliminary findings suggest that expectancies related to the mood-altering and disinhibiting effects of alcohol may play a role in whether problematic drinking facilitates suicidal thinking. Future intensive longitudinal designs are needed to test whether this moderation is replicated during periods of acute alcohol intoxication and when other psychiatric symptoms are controlled.
Authors: Véronique S Grazioli; Courtney L Bagge; Joseph Studer; Nicolas Bertholet; Ansgar Rougemont-Bücking; Meichun Mohler-Kuo; Jean-Bernard Daeppen; Gerhard Gmel Journal: J Affect Disord Date: 2018-02-17 Impact factor: 4.839