Perceived Problem-Solving Skills and Drinking Patterns among College Students

Abstract

The cognitive social-learning-theory literature on alcohol abuse points to failure to generate appropriate alternative behaviors to drinking as a major predictor of relapse to drinking. Viewing drinking as a continuous variable, ranging from abstinence to abuse, it should be possible to demonstrate a relationship between problem-solving abilities and drinking patterns. The hypothesis that individuals' perceived problem-solving skills are related to their pattern of alcohol use was examined. It was expected that poorer perceived problem-solving skills would be related to maladaptive use of alcohol in response to problem situations. 192 students in Introductory Psychology at a midsized southern university participated. Each subject completed questionnaires assessing frequency and quantity of alcohol use, and stimuli associated with the onset of drinking. The Problem-solving Inventory was used to measure perceived problem-solving skills. Drinking pattern variables were formed by factor analysis. Canonical correlation analysis of the data supported the hypotheses. Students with lower confidence in problem-solving capabilities reported greater use of alcohol to cope with negative emotions and to escape from responsibilities than students with high confidence in their abilities. Amount of alcohol consumed was not related to problem-solving skills.

Problem-Solving Appraisal and Human Adjustment

“…Moreover, despite some individuals' scoring high (i.e., a negative problem-solving appraisal) on the PSI as a group, Larson and Heppner (1989) noted that their PSI scores in the alcoholic sample indicated a very positive problem-solving appraisal; interviews with these individuals revealed that they were overapproaching and perseverating their problems. Thus, at least some individuals who perceived their problem-solving appraisal to be very positive also had significant problems with alcohol abuse; this finding is consistent with Williams and Kleinfelter (1989), who found that both high and low PSI scores were related to drinking patterns. A final study (Slavkin, Heimberg, Winning, & McCaffrey, 1992) also did not find a linear relationship between the PSI and alcohol intake/abuse, but rather an interaction between alcohol abuse and parental drinking (i.e., students who reported more alcohol abuse and whose parents had problems with drinking had more negative problem-solving appraisal).…”

“…However, there is some evidence that the relationship between problemsolving appraisal and the frequency of alcohol use may be more complex than depicted by zero-order relationships. For example, Williams and Kleinfelter (1989) did not find a significant association between problemsolving appraisal and frequency of alcohol use in undergraduate students but rather found more complex relations through canonical analysis. One canonical variate indicated that a lack of problem-solving confidence and a tendency to avoid problems were related to the use of alcohol to control negative emotions and escape problems.…”

Adapting a blended motivational interviewing and problem-solving intervention to address risky substance use amongst South Africans

“…Maladaptive problemsolving exists when individuals have a negative problem orientation and an impulsive-careless or avoidant style of problem-solving. There is evidence that problem-solving deficits are related to substance use among adolescents (Jaffee & D'Zurilla, 2009) and college students (Elliot, Johnson, & Jackson, 1997;Williams & Kleinfelter, 1989), alcohol dependence among adults (Nixon, Tivis, & Parsons, 1992), heroin dependence among adults (Platt, Scura, & Hannon, 1973), and substance use among adults (Sorsdahl, Stein, Carrara, & Myers, 2013). Since there is evidence that problem-solving deficits respond to PST (D'Zurilla & Nezu, 1999), it is possible that PST is an appropriate intervention for substancerelated problems.…”

Social Work and Social Media: Online Help-Seeking and the Mental Well-Being of Adolescent Males

“…relates to beliefs concerning one's ability to perform certain actions and tasks (Bandura, 1999). Early studies have shown that a lack of confidence in ones' ability can lead to poorer coping attitudes and behaviours (Williams and Kleinfelter, 1989 may have the confidence with computers to seek help online. Burns et al (2009) found that for those who used ReachOut.com, a successful mental health service, they had increased awareness and understanding of how to help themselves as well as increased contact with mental health professionals.…”