Coping with the temptation to drink

Part one of this study examined the efficacy of coping responses among college students (N = 137) attempting to control their temptation to drink. Using the taxonomy delineated by Shiffman ("Coping with the Temptation to Smoke, Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, vol. 50, pp. 261-267, 1984), results indicated that both cognitive and behavioral coping were effective in resisting the temptation to drink. When specific coping responses were compared, 3 of 10 behavioral responses and 3 of 13 cognitive responses showed a significant relationship with outcome. These responses were differentially effective in resisting the temptation to drink. A comparison was made to Shiffman's (1984) previous work and the conceptual and methodological problems which may account for the divergent results are discussed. Part Two of this study examined the relationship between the coping responses people use in attempting self-control and those used in dealing with daily stressors. Results suggest that coping is a highly situationally specific response which shows little consistency across these two contexts. Conceptual and methodological difficulties which qualify the obtained results are discussed.