The association between meaning in life and harmful drinking is mediated by individual differences in self-control and alcohol value

Copeland, Amber; Jones, Andrew; Field, Matt

doi:10.31234/osf.io/x2fuq

Cited by 2 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…It was recently found that the presence of MiL as measured with the MLQ is associated with less harmful drinking (Copeland et al 2020). Interestingly, the search for meaning showed an inverse relation (more harmful drinking).…”

Section: Meaning In Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

Alcohol use disorder relapse factors: an exploratory investigation of craving, alcohol dependence severity, and meaning in life

Sliedrecht¹,

Seesink²,

Vrijmoeth³

et al. 2022

Addiction Research & Theory

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For decades predictors of alcohol use disorder (AUD) relapse have been studied, and around 40 different clinical and demographic relapse determinants have been identified. This paper aims to investigate the relationship of two of these AUD relapse factors, namely craving and meaning in life (MiL). We hypothesized that greater meaning in life would be associated with lower cravings and lower relapse rates. An AUD subsample of 81 patients within a clinical population that participated in ongoing exploratory research on religious/spiritual factors related to substance use disorders was followed up to 1 year. Craving (as measured with the Penn Alcohol Craving Scale) and meaning in life (as measured with the Meaning in Life Questionnaire-presence subscale) measures were assessed at baseline and relapse was assessed at 6-and 12-month follow up. Main effects and the interaction between craving and meaning in life in predicting alcohol relapse (with relapse defined as 'any alcohol use' and ! 3 consecutive days of drinking) were calculated/subject of analyses. We also investigated the relationship between relapse and alcohol dependence severity as measured with the Leeds Dependence Questionnaire. Baseline craving and dependence severity were related to relapse, but there were no associations between meaning in life and levels of craving or alcohol relapse. Our findings suggest a need for additional research on characterizing the Meaning in Life concept.

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Section: Meaning In Lifementioning

confidence: 99%

Alcohol use disorder relapse factors: an exploratory investigation of craving, alcohol dependence severity, and meaning in life

Sliedrecht¹,

Seesink²,

Vrijmoeth³

et al. 2022

Addiction Research & Theory

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…a life characterized by comprehension and significance; George and Park 2013) is often divided into two subscales (Steger et al 2006): 'presence' reflects the extent to which a person currently experiences life meaning and 'search' reflects the extent to which a person is actively seeking life meaning. Research reliably demonstrates that presence of meaning in life is inversely associated with alcohol consumption (Robinson et al 2007;Schnetzer et al 2013;Krentzman et al 2017;Copeland et al 2020;Csabonyi and Phillips 2020), however the relationship between search for meaning in life and alcohol consumption is less clear: one study found a positive association (Copeland et al 2020) whilst another study found no significant association (Csabonyi and Phillips 2020) between the two. Put another way, some evidence shows that elevated search for meaning in life is characterized by higher levels of alcohol consumption, which may in part be due to frustration or disappointment (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One recent cross-sectional study found that people with high presence of meaning have lowered behavioral economic demand for alcohol and lower scores on the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT; Copeland et al 2020), which may in part be due to elevated alcohol-free alternative reinforcement. Different factors may contribute to increasing alcohol-free reinforcement, one of them being age.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, findings regarding the role of search for meaning in life are mixed (e.g. Copeland et al 2020;Csabonyi and Phillips 2020). A body of theoretical and empirical work highlight the importance of alcohol value, alcohol-free reinforcement, depressive symptoms, and drinking to cope within decisions to consume alcohol.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, relationships between these constructs and meaning in life remains relatively unexplored. Therefore, the aim of this study is twofold: (1) attempt to replicate and extend findings from Copeland et al (2020) to clarify the role of search for meaning in life, and (2) explore the mediating effects of alcohol-free reinforcement, alcohol value, depression, and drinking to cope within the relationships between meaning in life subscales and AUDIT scores. Design, hypotheses, and analysis strategy were pre-registered before data collection commenced (https://aspredicted.org/3h8xb.pdf).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Meaning in life: Investigating protective and risk factors for harmful alcohol consumption

Copeland¹,

Jones²,

Acuff³

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Background: Individuals who report greater meaning in life tend to consume less alcohol. However, research elucidating pathways through which meaning in life influences consumption is lacking. Behavioural economic theories posit that distortions in valuation processes, whilst negative reinforcement models posit that avoidance or regulation of negative internal states, are central in decisions to consume alcohol. Method: Pre-registered, cross-sectional design. Five hundred forty-six participants (≥ 18 years old) completed an online questionnaire which asked about their alcohol use and related problems, meaning in life, alcohol-free reinforcement, alcohol value, depressive symptoms, and drinking to cope motives. Results: Presence of meaning in life had a significant negative association with AUDIT scores (β = -.26, p < .001), but neither search for meaning in life nor total alcohol-free reinforcement were significant predictors (ps > .53). Subsequent path analyses using structural equation modelling revealed a significant indirect effect of presence of meaning in life on AUDIT scores through lower alcohol value (95% CI = -.17 to -.08) and drinking to cope (95% CI = -.07 to -.00). Although search for meaning in life was not a direct predictor of AUDIT scores, there was a significant indirect effect through greater drinking to cope (95% CI = .01 to .06). Conclusions: Presence of meaning in life predicts lower alcohol consumption indirectly via individual differences in alcohol value and drinking to cope. These findings provide insight into mechanisms that underpin the relationships between meaning in life and alcohol consumption.

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The association between meaning in life and harmful drinking is mediated by individual differences in self-control and alcohol value

Abstract: Manuscript accepted for publication in Addictive Behaviors Reports, 25th January 2020.

Cited by 2 publications

References 30 publications

Alcohol use disorder relapse factors: an exploratory investigation of craving, alcohol dependence severity, and meaning in life

Alcohol use disorder relapse factors: an exploratory investigation of craving, alcohol dependence severity, and meaning in life

Meaning in life: Investigating protective and risk factors for harmful alcohol consumption

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