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Published on: January 5, 2018
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Cognitive style and drinking to cope: A prospective cohort study
Emma Corcoran1, Gemma Lewis1, Jon Heron2
1Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, London and South East, UK.
Addiction (Abingdon, England)
|August 2, 2021
Summary
Negative cognitive style in young adults is linked to increased drinking to cope. This study found a significant association, suggesting cognitive patterns influence alcohol coping mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Behavioral Science
Background:
- Negative cognitive style is associated with hopelessness and coping-motivated drinking.
- Understanding this link is crucial for developing targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between cognitive style and drinking to cope in young adults.
- To explore if cognitive style predicts later engagement in drinking to cope.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study of 1681 participants from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
- Cognitive style assessed at age 17; drinking to cope, alcohol consumption, and dependence assessed at age 24.
- Linear regression used to analyze associations, controlling for confounding variables.
Main Results:
- A 20-point increase in cognitive style score at age 17 was associated with a 0.24 increase in drinking to cope scores at age 24 (P=0.003).
- No significant association found between cognitive style and alcohol consumption.
- Initial association with alcohol dependence was not significant after adjusting for confounders.
Conclusions:
- A positive association exists between negative cognitive style and subsequent drinking to cope in young adults.
- Cognitive style may be a significant factor in the development of problematic alcohol use patterns.
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