Life stressors, drinking patterns, and depressive symptomatology: ethnicity and stress-buffer effects of alcohol

This paper seeks to extend previous research on stress buffer effects of alcohol use using data from a tri-ethnic community sample of 1,784 respondents. Differences in buffer effects between Anglos, Blacks, and Mexican Americans are examined to explore possible racial/ethnic variation in the role or function of alcohol vis-à-vis life stress and depressive symptoms. Both acute life events and chronic financial stress are examined to clarify the conditions under which buffer effects are most and least salient in these groups. The findings indicate that alcohol buffer effects are most pronounced among males with regard to life event stress and depression. Ethnic differences in buffer effects were suggested among males for life events, though statistical controls for demographic factors, fatalism, and religiosity accounted for these differences. The implications of these findings are examined, and the paper generally highlights the need to view alcohol use and alcohol buffer effects in the context of more general coping orientations.