Generalized expectancies for negative mood regulation and problem drinking among college students

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Addiction Research
• Social-Cognitive Theory

Background:

• Motivational models of alcohol use often incorporate social-learning theory concepts like coping styles, drinking motives, and emotional distress.
• Previous research has not examined the role of negative mood regulation (NMR) expectancies in problematic alcohol consumption.

Purpose of the Study:

• This study aimed to investigate the relationship between NMR expectancies and problem drinking.
• The research controlled for factors including alcohol consumption, coping behaviors, drinking motives, demographics, and affective distress.

Main Methods:

• A sample of 136 college undergraduates (80% female) completed self-report questionnaires.
• Data were collected at two time points, separated by an 8-week interval.

Main Results:

• NMR expectancies showed a strong negative association with problem drinking behavior.
• Hierarchical regression analyses confirmed that NMR expectancies significantly predict problem drinking, even when accounting for other variables.
• Simultaneous regression identified NMR expectancies, alcohol consumption, and drinking-to-cope as key predictors of problem drinking when considered together.

Conclusions:

• NMR expectancies represent a significant risk factor for problem drinking, independent of traditionally studied variables like depression, anxiety, coping styles, and drinking motives.
• The findings support a self-regulation framework for understanding alcohol consumption patterns.