Daily stress and alcohol consumption: modeling between-person and within-person ethnic variation in coping behavior

J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2011 Jan;72(1):125-34. doi: 10.15288/jsad.2011.72.125.

Abstract

Objective: Using a daily diary approach, the current study evaluated the relationship between coping and alcohol consumption using a large, multiethnic sample. The primary goals of this study were to (a) identify coping strategies that are either protective or risk factors for alcohol consumption and (b) model between-ethnic and within-ethnic group variation for these relations.

Method: College students (N = 365, 69.0% female) were recruited via flyers, course/club presentations, and university seminars. Participants completed Internet-based daily diaries over the course of 5 days and reported specifically on a target stressful event, how they coped with the stressful event, and the amount of alcohol consumed on a daily level.

Results: Use of more avoidance-oriented coping strategies (minimization of stressor, emotional rumination) and social support were significantly associated with more alcohol consumption. Ethnicity, however, did moderate some coping-alcohol associations. Use of religious coping was associated with less alcohol consumption and minimization of the stressor was associated with more alcohol consumption in African Americans; use of social support was associated with more alcohol consumption in Asian Americans; and use of problem-focused coping was associated with less alcohol consumption in Whites.

Conclusions: Three maladaptive or risky coping strategies with respect to alcohol consumption were identified using an ecologically valid methodology. However, ethnic-specific variation of these risky (and protective) coping factors was identified. The findings highlight the importance of considering both between-ethnic and within-ethnic group variation with respect to the stress/coping and alcohol consumption.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological*
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alcohol Drinking / ethnology*
  • Alcohol Drinking / psychology*
  • Asian
  • Black or African American
  • Ethnicity
  • Female
  • Hispanic or Latino
  • Humans
  • Internet
  • Male
  • Medical Records
  • Risk Factors
  • Risk-Taking
  • Stress, Psychological / ethnology*
  • Students / psychology*
  • Universities
  • White People
  • Young Adult