PTSD Symptomology and Motivated Alcohol Use Among Military Service Members: Testing a Conditional Indirect Effect Model of Social Support

Details

• Personal Author:
  Carlson KF ; Hammer LB ; McCabe CT ; Mohr CD
• Description:
  Background: Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and problematic alcohol use commonly co-occur among military service members. It remains critical to understand why these patterns emerge, and under what conditions. Objectives: This study examined whether PTSD symptoms (PTSS) and alcohol involvement (quantity and frequency of use, heavy episodic drinking, and alcohol problems) are indirectly related through four distinct drinking motivations. A secondary aim was to identify factors, specifically forms of social support, which buffer these associations. Methods: Using baseline data from a randomized-controlled trial of health and well-being among civilian-employed separated service members and reservists, the present study examined these issues using a subsample of 398 current drinkers. Results: Parallel mediation models revealed PTSS-alcohol consumption associations were indirect through coping and enhancement motivations. PTSS was only related to alcohol problems through coping motivations. In addition, the indirect effect of PTSS on average level of consumption via coping motives was conditional on perceived support from friends and family, whereas the indirect effect for alcohol problems was conditional only on friend support. In contrast, the indirect effects of PTSS on alcohol consumption variables (but not problems) via enhancement motives were conditional on perceived support from friends and family. Conclusions/Importance: Future research and screening efforts should attend to individual motivations for drinking as important factors related to alcohol use and problems among service members experiencing PTSS, and emphasize the importance of communication, trust, and effective supports among military and nonmilitary friends and family. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Alcoholic Beverages Behavior Family Mental Health Nervous System Occupational Health Safety Substance-Related Disorders
• Keywords:
  Alcohol Alcoholic Beverages Author Keywords: Military Service Members Behavior Patterns Drinking Motives Families Mental Health Military Personnel Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Psychological Factors PTSD Social Support Substance Abuse

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• ISSN:
  1082-6084
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Oregon ; OSHA Region 10
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  257-270
• Volume:
  54
• Issue:
  2
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20055598
• Citation:
  Subst Use Misuse 2019 Feb; 54(2):257-270
• Contact Point Address:
  Cameron T. McCabe, Medical Modeling, Simulation, and Mission Support Department, Naval Health Research Center, 140 Sylvester Road, San Diego, CA 92106, USA
• Email:
  cameron.mccabe@gmail.com
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2019
• Performing Organization:
  Portland State University
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Substance Use and Misuse
• End Date:
  20250630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:be991cbe6465bcb5c4403e3036cd6c79c2bcf23c547c90e2158d00707a9de74b1b09d2a28608976ecde4aabe7985180831d895fef35a32f90e9a62fb8985fc0b
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/213415/cdc_213415_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.43 MB ]