Multiple discrimination, depression and anxiety coping motives, and alcohol-related consequences

Alcohol-related consequences remain a major public health issue, especially for emerging adults. Additionally, experiences of discrimination can have a deleterious impact on an individuals' drinking habits and mental health, especially when an individual is discriminated against for multiple, intersecting aspects of their identity. For example, experiencing multiple forms of discrimination has been linked to anxiety, depression, and alcohol-related consequences. The purpose of this study was to investigate if experiences of multiple discrimination are associated with alcohol-related consequences and if a pathway exists between multiple discrimination, anxiety and depression coping motives, and alcohol-related consequences. Participants (N = 399; 54.9% female, 48.1% White) were emerging adults who completed a survey on Prolific Academic, including questionnaires on number of drinks per week, alcohol-related consequences, experiences of perceived discrimination, depression and anxiety, and substance use coping motives. Results supported a significant association between multiple forms of discrimination and alcohol consequences. Serial mediation analyses supported an indirect effect of multiple forms of discrimination on alcohol-related consequences through both depression and depression coping motives, and anxiety and anxiety coping motives. Overall, the results of this study build upon previous research on the association between coping motives and alcohol consequences, demonstrate the depth of the impact of experiencing discrimination, and highlight the need for research to consider discrimination from an intersectional lens. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).