Coping mediates the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and alcohol use in homeless, ethnically diverse women: A preliminary study.

Abstract

Homeless women are at increased risk for problematic alcohol use and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While coping motives have been shown to mediate the relationship between PTSD symptoms and alcohol problems in victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, it is unknown whether this relationship is evident in other trauma-exposed populations. The focus of this study was to examine whether drinking to cope mediated the relationship between PTSD symptoms and current alcohol use in a group of homeless, ethnically diverse women. Twenty-three women were recruited from local shelters in a southwestern community and asked to complete measures assessing their current alcohol use, drinking motives, and PTSD symptoms. Results revealed that drinking to cope mediated the relationship between PTSD symptoms and current alcohol use. This finding supports the theory that homeless women may benefit from treatment interventions that address both their substance use and trauma issues.

Associations among Trauma, Posttraumatic Stress, and Hazardous Drinking in College Students: Considerations for Intervention

“…In another college sample, Read et al found posttraumatic stress to be prospectively related to poorer coping over time [104]. Although coping did not mediate PTS-alcohol associations in this study, several other studies have found at least partial support for a meditational role of coping [99–101]. In addition to coping skills themselves, the motivation to drink in order to cope—specifically with PTS—may also be an important factor to consider [9, 102, 103].…”

Problematic Alcohol Use, Trauma History, and PTSD Symptom Level: A Path Analysis

“…Drinking with the motive to alleviate emotional distress or regulate negative affect (i.e., drinking to cope) has been consistently positively associated with PTSD symptoms. For instance, drinking to cope is associated with PTSD symptom levels among adults in clinical settings (Lehavot et al, 2013), adolescents (Dixon, Leen-Feldner, Ham, Feldner, & Lewis, 2009), female victims of domestic violence (Kaysen et al, 2007), survivors of sexual assault (Ullman, Townsend, Starzynski, & Long, 2006), women who are homeless (Yeater, Austin, Green, & Smith, 2010), and individuals with serious mental illness (O'Hare, Shen, & Sherrer, 2010). Furthermore, drinking to cope plays a greater role in mediating PTSD symptoms and alcohol consumption than more socially oriented drinking (O'Hare & Sherrer, 2011).…”

Coping, PTSD symptoms, and alcohol involvement in trauma-exposed college students in the first three years of college.

“…As noted, consequences from drinking may compromise coping resources, resulting in poorer post-trauma adaptation and greater PTSD symptoms. Though some studies have examined coping as a mediator of PTSD on drinking outcomes (Veenstra et al, 2007; Yeater et al, 2010), there have been no prospective tests of coping as a mediator of the reverse pathway, whereby alcohol influences PTSD outcomes.…”