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Cognitive motivations for drinking among alcoholics: factor structure and correlates
R C McMahon1, K Kouzekanani, L A DeMarco
1Counseling Psychology Program, University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida.
The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse
|January 1, 1992
Summary
This study identified drinking motivations in alcoholics, finding links between mood and social factors and negative consequences. These cognitive motivations were not tied to alcohol quantity but to adverse physical and occupational outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Addiction Research
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a significant public health issue.
- Understanding the motivations behind alcohol consumption is crucial for effective treatment.
- Previous research has explored reasons for drinking, but a comprehensive analysis of cognitive expectancies and their link to consequences in inpatient populations is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify key factors representing reasons for drinking and expectancies of alcohol's effects among individuals with AUD.
- To investigate the relationship between these cognitive drinking motivations and patterns of alcohol consumption.
- To examine the association between drinking motivations and personal/social consequences of alcohol use.
Main Methods:
- Factor analysis was employed to identify underlying motivations for drinking.
- Participants included individuals admitted for inpatient alcoholism treatment.
- Statistical analyses were used to correlate identified factors with alcohol consumption patterns and adverse consequences.
Main Results:
- Three primary factors emerged: negative mood reduction, positive mood enhancement, and social functioning.
- These factors were not significantly associated with the quantity of alcohol consumed.
- Significant, small to moderate associations were found between three of the four identified factors and adverse physical and occupational consequences of alcohol abuse.
Conclusions:
- Cognitive motivations for drinking, particularly those related to mood and social factors, are linked to adverse outcomes in individuals with AUD.
- While not directly predicting alcohol quantity, these motivations are associated with tangible negative life consequences.
- Findings suggest that addressing these cognitive expectancies may be a valuable therapeutic target in treating alcohol use disorder.