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The Social Dimension of Stress: Experimental Manipulations of Social Support and Social Identity in the Trier Social Stress Test
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Social Support Indirectly Predicts Problem Drinking Through Reduced Psychological Distress
Chris Segrin1, Melissa McNelis1, Paulina Swiatkowski1
1a Department of Communication , University of Arizona , Tucson , Arizona , USA.
Substance Use & Misuse
|March 24, 2016
Summary
Social support helps young adults by reducing psychological distress, which in turn lowers the risk of problem drinking. This protective factor is key for mitigating alcohol-related issues in this age group.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Addiction Research
Background:
- Psychological distress is a known risk factor for problem drinking among young adults.
- Social support may act as a protective mechanism against psychological distress, potentially reducing problem drinking indirectly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between social support, psychological distress, and problem drinking in young adults.
- To test a model examining the indirect effects of social support on problem drinking through psychological distress.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal study design was employed with 211 university students over one year (2014-15).
- Online surveys assessed problem drinking, social support indicators, and psychological distress indicators.
- Structural equation modeling was used for data analysis.
Main Results:
- Social support did not directly predict future problem drinking after controlling for concurrent factors.
- Social support was associated with reductions in psychological distress over time.
- Reduced psychological distress subsequently predicted reductions in problem drinking over time, indicating an indirect effect.
Conclusions:
- Social support, encompassing friend, emotional, and informational support, acts as a significant protective factor.
- This protective effect operates by mitigating psychological distress, thereby reducing the risk of problem drinking in young adults.
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