Childhood trauma can exist in many forms including physical, emotional and sexual abuse as well as physical neglect. Individuals who experience childhood trauma often experience negative affect which can lead to alcohol use for coping with psychological distress. Childhood trauma also negatively impacts adult survivors’ emotional pathways to alcohol use disorders (AUDs). The Self-Medication Hypothesis states that those with higher coping motives for drinking should experience more alcohol related problems. Additionally, young adults who drink to cope are more likely to participate in high-risk drinking behaviors like drinking in solitary conditions and heavy alcohol consumption. This study examines the effect of coping motives and perceived impaired control (IC) on the relationship between childhood trauma and alcohol-related problems.
The study’s sample consisted of 612 university students from Arizona State University. Students completed a questionnaire that assessed childhood emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse, physical neglect, and emotionally supportive family members. Participants also completed scales to assess coping motives and impaired control over alcohol. Lastly, past-month alcohol use and past-year alcohol-related negative consequences were assessed. Data was analyzed using a structural equation model with chi-square statistics.
Results of the data analysis showed that physical neglect was directly associated with more IC and alcohol use. Emotional and sexual abuse were linked to more coping motives. Additionally, emotional and sexual abuse were directly associated with more alcohol use and alcohol related negative consequences through greater coping motives and IC. However, all forms of childhood abuse did not follow this same pathway. Lastly, the study showed that men were less likely to be emotionally abused but were more likely to use higher amounts of alcohol.
Takeaway: Childhood emotional and sexual abuse may be associated with more alcohol use and alcohol related negative consequences through greater coping motives and impaired control over alcohol among young adults.