Sunny H Shin1, Gabriela Ksinan Jiskrova2, Susan H Yoon3, Julia M Kobulsky4. 1. Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Social Work, 1000 Floyd Avenue, Third Floor Richmond, VA 23284, United States; Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, 1200 East Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23298, United States. Electronic address: sshin@vcu.edu. 2. Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Social Work, 1000 Floyd Avenue, Third Floor Richmond, VA 23284, United States. 3. Ohio State University, College of Social Work, 1947 N. College Road, Columbus, OH, 43210, United States. 4. Temple University, School of Social Work, 1101 W. Montgomery Ave. Third Floor Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Young adults with a history of child maltreatment (CM) are often vulnerable to alcohol-related problems. Drinking motives have been widely studied to explain alcohol-related problems in young adulthood. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the current study were to examine the link between CM and alcohol-related problems and to test whether CM is indirectly related to alcohol-related problems via different types of drinking motives. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Two hundred eight participants were recruited in a mid-Atlantic urban area (M age = 19.7, 78.4 % female) via advertisements placed throughout the community. METHODS: Participants completed self-report measures of CM (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), types of drinking motives (the Drinking Motives Questionnaire Revised Short Form), and alcohol-related problems (Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test whether CM was associated with alcohol use, both directly and indirectly, through drinking motives. RESULTS: We found that both coping (β = 0.53,p < 0.001) and enhancement drinking motives (β = 0.15, p = 0.031) were associated with alcohol-related problems. Additionally, CM was related to alcohol-related problems indirectly via coping motive (β = 0.11, p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: Young adults with a history of CM may use alcohol to cope with trauma-related negative emotionality. Targeting emotional distress in CM-exposed individuals may be helpful in preventing and treating alcohol-related problems in this vulnerable population.
BACKGROUND: Young adults with a history of child maltreatment (CM) are often vulnerable to alcohol-related problems. Drinking motives have been widely studied to explain alcohol-related problems in young adulthood. OBJECTIVES: The aims of the current study were to examine the link between CM and alcohol-related problems and to test whether CM is indirectly related to alcohol-related problems via different types of drinking motives. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Two hundred eight participants were recruited in a mid-Atlantic urban area (M age = 19.7, 78.4 % female) via advertisements placed throughout the community. METHODS:Participants completed self-report measures of CM (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire), types of drinking motives (the Drinking Motives Questionnaire Revised Short Form), and alcohol-related problems (Rutgers Alcohol Problem Index). Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to test whether CM was associated with alcohol use, both directly and indirectly, through drinking motives. RESULTS: We found that both coping (β = 0.53,p < 0.001) and enhancement drinking motives (β = 0.15, p = 0.031) were associated with alcohol-related problems. Additionally, CM was related to alcohol-related problems indirectly via coping motive (β = 0.11, p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: Young adults with a history of CM may use alcohol to cope with trauma-related negative emotionality. Targeting emotional distress in CM-exposed individuals may be helpful in preventing and treating alcohol-related problems in this vulnerable population.
Authors: Aline Hoffmann; Daniela Benzano; Felipe Ornell; Felix H P Kessler; Lisia von Diemen; Jaqueline B Schuch Journal: Braz J Psychiatry Date: 2022-06-23