Dispositional and situational coping among individuals with alcohol use disorder

Previous research has documented that patients referred for problems related to alcohol use rely primary on maladaptive coping and are deficient in adaptive coping skills. However, the relation between dispositional and situational coping in these patients is not yet fully understood. Therefore, the first aim of the present study was to assess dispositional and situational coping among individuals with alcohol use disorder compared to matched healthy controls. Furthermore, we aimed at assessing gender differences in dispositional and situational coping among individuals with alcohol use disorder. Fifty-five patients with alcohol use disorder were compared to 55 age, years of education, and gender-matched healthy volunteers. Participants filled out the Coping Orientation to Problem Experiences-New Italian version assessing dispositional coping and the Coping Responses Inventory - Adult Form assessing situational coping. Regarding dispositional coping, patients with alcohol use disorder employed more avoidant coping styles compared to matched healthy controls. No differences between groups emerged on situational coping. With respect to gender differences in dispositional coping, women, regardless of group membership, employed more coping styles aimed at construing a stressful transaction in positive terms and turned to religion more relative to men. With respect to situational coping, women, again regardless of group membership, employed more strategies aimed at construing a stressful transaction in positive terms and more problem-solving strategies compared to men. Results of the present study may assist with treatment planning for alcohol use disorder and lead to the development of treatment programs targeting patients' specific coping difficulties.