Coping styles in abstainers from alcohol

The present study investigates the Millon Behavior Health Inventory basic coping styles, mental absorption (Tellegen Absorption Scale), sensation seeking (Arnett Inventory of Sensation Seeking, AISS) and affect inhibition (Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, MC-SDS), in a group of abstainers from alcohol (n = 55) compared to an age-equivalent group of moderate drinkers (n = 176). The abstainers had significantly higher scores on one of the repressive coping styles (respectful) and significantly lower scores on sociability. There were no differences on the other basic coping styles. The abstainer group had lower AISS scores and higher MC-SDS scores. There were no significant differences between abstainers and drinkers in mental absorption. The results suggest that abstainers from alcohol may have adopted an affect-inhibiting, passive-ambivalent coping style associated with denial of hostility, rigid impulse control and social conformity.