Drinking Motives Mediate the Relation between Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms and Alcohol-Related Problems among College Students

Evidence demonstrates an association between symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and alcohol outcomes, though mechanisms underlying relations are unclear. Given that drinking motives (coping-anxiety, coping-depression, enhancement, social, and conformity) appear to serve as a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Emerging adulthood (Thousand Oaks, CA) CA), 2023-06, Vol.11 (3), p.535-545
Main Authors: Falco, Caitlin A., Zimmerman, Lauren, Vasko, John M., Meinzer, Michael C., Hartung, Cynthia M., Flory, Kate, Looby, Alison
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alcohol use
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
College students
Conformity
Coping
Drinking behavior
Mental depression
Social anxiety
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Summary:Evidence demonstrates an association between symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and alcohol outcomes, though mechanisms underlying relations are unclear. Given that drinking motives (coping-anxiety, coping-depression, enhancement, social, and conformity) appear to serve as a mediator through which other factors influence drinking behavior, the current multi-site study examined the relation between ADHD symptoms and alcohol outcomes through motives. Past-month drinkers completed online measures assessing ADHD symptoms, alcohol use and problems, and drinking motives. A multiple-mediator model found inattention symptoms were: 1) positively associated with coping-depression, which positively related to alcohol use, which positively related to alcohol problems; 2) positively associated with enhancement motives, which positively related to use, which positively related to problems; and 3) positively associated with coping-anxiety, which negatively related to use, which positively related to problems. No indirect relations via motives were found for hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. Findings highlight unique associations depending on ADHD symptoms and specific drinking motives.
ISSN:2167-6968
2167-6984
DOI:10.1177/21676968231152273