Abstract
The stress dampening model (Marlatt, 1987; Sayette, 1993; Sher, 1987) suggests certain individuals may use alcohol to escape from their negative life experiences. Pathological reasons for drinking (e.g., using alcohol as a means to cope) reflect the degree to which individuals are motivated to use alcohol in order to dampen or alleviate the stress they are experiencing (Johnson, Schwitters, Wilson, Nagoshi, & McClearn, 1985). Direct and mediational links among parental bonds (rejection, care, overprotection, autonomy, and neglect), self-esteem, stress, pathological reasons for drinking, and alcohol-related problems were explored. A Structural Equation Model with (405 students; 164 women, 241 men) college students was examined. Three path mediational analyses revealed several mediated pathways. Greater feelings of perceived father/mother neglectfulness (i.e., offspring feeling parents do not show up for them) were indirectly linked to more alcohol-related problems (e.g., indicative of alcohol use or dependence in emerging adulthood) through increased stress and pathological reasons for drinking. Furthermore, higher levels of father rejection (i.e., perception of feeling unwanted) were indirectly linked to more pathological reasons for drinking through low self-esteem and increased stress. However, greater feelings of mother care (affectionate and attentive) were indirectly linked to fewer pathological reasons for drinking through higher self-esteem and lower levels of stress. Moreover, high self-esteem was found to be indirectly linked to fewer alcohol-related problems through decreased stress and pathological reasons for drinking. These findings suggest several specific pathways for using alcohol to self-medicate (i.e., consume alcohol for a specific purpose) or dampen feelings of stress.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 477-484 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | Addictive Behaviors |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Apr 1 2012 |
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Keywords
- Alcohol-related problems
- Mediation
- Parental bonds
- Pathological reasons for drinking
- Self-esteem
- Stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine (miscellaneous)
- Toxicology
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
Cite this
The stress-response dampening hypothesis : How self-esteem and stress act as mechanisms between negative parental bonds and alcohol-related problems in emerging adulthood. / Backer-Fulghum, Lindsey M.; Patock-Peckham, Julie; King, Kevin M.; Roufa, Lindsay; Hagen, Leslie.
In: Addictive Behaviors, Vol. 37, No. 4, 01.04.2012, p. 477-484.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The stress-response dampening hypothesis
T2 - How self-esteem and stress act as mechanisms between negative parental bonds and alcohol-related problems in emerging adulthood
AU - Backer-Fulghum, Lindsey M.
AU - Patock-Peckham, Julie
AU - King, Kevin M.
AU - Roufa, Lindsay
AU - Hagen, Leslie
PY - 2012/4/1
Y1 - 2012/4/1
N2 - The stress dampening model (Marlatt, 1987; Sayette, 1993; Sher, 1987) suggests certain individuals may use alcohol to escape from their negative life experiences. Pathological reasons for drinking (e.g., using alcohol as a means to cope) reflect the degree to which individuals are motivated to use alcohol in order to dampen or alleviate the stress they are experiencing (Johnson, Schwitters, Wilson, Nagoshi, & McClearn, 1985). Direct and mediational links among parental bonds (rejection, care, overprotection, autonomy, and neglect), self-esteem, stress, pathological reasons for drinking, and alcohol-related problems were explored. A Structural Equation Model with (405 students; 164 women, 241 men) college students was examined. Three path mediational analyses revealed several mediated pathways. Greater feelings of perceived father/mother neglectfulness (i.e., offspring feeling parents do not show up for them) were indirectly linked to more alcohol-related problems (e.g., indicative of alcohol use or dependence in emerging adulthood) through increased stress and pathological reasons for drinking. Furthermore, higher levels of father rejection (i.e., perception of feeling unwanted) were indirectly linked to more pathological reasons for drinking through low self-esteem and increased stress. However, greater feelings of mother care (affectionate and attentive) were indirectly linked to fewer pathological reasons for drinking through higher self-esteem and lower levels of stress. Moreover, high self-esteem was found to be indirectly linked to fewer alcohol-related problems through decreased stress and pathological reasons for drinking. These findings suggest several specific pathways for using alcohol to self-medicate (i.e., consume alcohol for a specific purpose) or dampen feelings of stress.
AB - The stress dampening model (Marlatt, 1987; Sayette, 1993; Sher, 1987) suggests certain individuals may use alcohol to escape from their negative life experiences. Pathological reasons for drinking (e.g., using alcohol as a means to cope) reflect the degree to which individuals are motivated to use alcohol in order to dampen or alleviate the stress they are experiencing (Johnson, Schwitters, Wilson, Nagoshi, & McClearn, 1985). Direct and mediational links among parental bonds (rejection, care, overprotection, autonomy, and neglect), self-esteem, stress, pathological reasons for drinking, and alcohol-related problems were explored. A Structural Equation Model with (405 students; 164 women, 241 men) college students was examined. Three path mediational analyses revealed several mediated pathways. Greater feelings of perceived father/mother neglectfulness (i.e., offspring feeling parents do not show up for them) were indirectly linked to more alcohol-related problems (e.g., indicative of alcohol use or dependence in emerging adulthood) through increased stress and pathological reasons for drinking. Furthermore, higher levels of father rejection (i.e., perception of feeling unwanted) were indirectly linked to more pathological reasons for drinking through low self-esteem and increased stress. However, greater feelings of mother care (affectionate and attentive) were indirectly linked to fewer pathological reasons for drinking through higher self-esteem and lower levels of stress. Moreover, high self-esteem was found to be indirectly linked to fewer alcohol-related problems through decreased stress and pathological reasons for drinking. These findings suggest several specific pathways for using alcohol to self-medicate (i.e., consume alcohol for a specific purpose) or dampen feelings of stress.
KW - Alcohol-related problems
KW - Mediation
KW - Parental bonds
KW - Pathological reasons for drinking
KW - Self-esteem
KW - Stress
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84857061619&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=84857061619&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.addbeh.2011.12.012
DO - 10.1016/j.addbeh.2011.12.012
M3 - Article
C2 - 22244799
AN - SCOPUS:84857061619
VL - 37
SP - 477
EP - 484
JO - Addictive Behaviors
JF - Addictive Behaviors
SN - 0306-4603
IS - 4
ER -