Life Stress Events and Alcohol Misuse: Distinguishing Contributing Stress Events From Consequential Stress Events

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between life stress events and level of alcohol misuse using two stress indices. The first index consisted of stress events that are not likely to be caused by alcohol misuse (i.e., alcohol uncontaminated stress events). The second stress index consisted of items that were judged as being likely consequences of alcohol misuse (i.e., alcohol contaminated stress events). Results based on a questionnaire study of 378 undergraduates in 2000 showed that level of alcohol misuse was much more strongly related to alcohol contaminated life stress events than alcohol uncontaminated life events. Comparative analysis of the coefficients of determination indicated the effect size of the association to alcohol contaminated life stress events was 240% larger than the corresponding effect size for the association to alcohol uncontaminated life events. Results suggest that studies, which are tests of the tension reduction hypothesis, should employ greater methodological rigor to ensure measures of life stress events are not inadvertently assessing the consequences of alcohol misuse. The results highlight the need to distinguish between stressful life events that contribute to alcohol misuse and stressful life events that are consequential to alcohol misuse.

• Tension reduction hypothesis
• Alcohol misuse
• Life stress
• Confounding
• Criterion contamination
• Vulnerability
• Risk factor

Resumen

Este estudió examinó la relación entre acontecimientos estresantes en la vida y el nivel del mal uso del alcohol, utilizando como íncices dos énfacis. El primer índice se compuso de los acontecimientos estresantes que no son probablemente causados por el abuso del alcohol (es decir, acontecimientos estresantes no debidos al alcohol). El segundo índice se compuso de articulos que se jusgaron como probables consecuencias debidos al abuso de alcohol (es decir, acontecimientos estresantes debidos al alcohol). Los resultados basados en un estudio conducido por cuestionario de 378 estudiantes sin licencía, mostró que el nivel del mal uso de alcohol era mucho más fuertemente relacionado con los acontecimientos en la vida debidos al alcohol, que a los acontecimientos sin relación al alcohol. Un análisis comparativo de los coeficientes de esta determinacion indicó que el tamaño de los acontecimientos estresantes debido al alcohol fueron 240% más grandes que el tamaño de el efecto correspondiente a la asociación de los acontecimientos estresantes no debido al alcohol. Los resultados sugieren que estudios, que son pruebas de la hipótesis de la reducción de la tensión, deben emplear mas rigor metodológico, para asegurar que las medidas de acontecimientos estresantes en la vida no estén asesorando las consequencias del mal uso de alcohol. Los resultados destacan la necesidad de distinguir entre los acontecimientos estresantes en la vida que contribuyen al mal uso del alcohol y los acontecimientos estresantes en la vida que son a consequencia del mal uso del alcohol.

Résumé

Cette étude a examiné le rapport entre les événements d’effort de la vie et le niveau de l’abus d’alcool en utilisant deux index d’effort. Le premier index s’est composé des événements d’effort qui ne sont pas susceptibles d’être provoqués par abus d’alcool (c.-à-d., événements propres d’effort d’alcool). Le deuxième index d’effort s’est composé des articles qui ont été jugés en tant qu’étant des conséquences probables d’abus d’alcool (c.-à-d., l’alcool a souillé des événements d’effort). Les résultats basés sur une étude de questionnaire de 378 étudiants préparant une licence ont prouvé que de niveau de l’abus d’alcool beaucoup plus fortement a été lié aux événements d’effort de la vie souillés par alcool que des événements de vie propres d’alcool. L’analyse comparative des coefficients de la détermination a indiqué la taille d’effet de l’association aux événements d’effort de la vie souillés par alcool était 240% plus grand que la taille correspondante d’effet pour l’association aux événements de vie propres d’alcool. Les résultats suggèrent que les études, qui sont des essais de l’hypothèse de réduction de tension, devraient utiliser une plus grande rigueur méthodologique pour assurer des mesures d’événements d’effort de la vie n’évaluent pas par distraction les conséquences de l’abus d’alcool. Les résultats accentuent la nécessité de distinguer les événements de vie stressants qui contribuent à l’abus d’alcool et aux événements de vie stressants qui sont consécutifs à l’abus d’alcool.

Notes

^aSome uses the term abuse as a diagnostic category only. Substances are used or misused; living organisms can be and are abused. For others who choose to use abuse, in any of its variations the term is noted with “ ”.

^bA critical unresolved issue associated with alcohol user taxonomies is their source (theory-driven; empirically based and generalizable, a principle of faith, arbitrary, categorizer-related), their dimensions and “demands,” their implications and their boundedness (culture-time-place).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Kenneth E. Hart

Dr. Kenneth E. Hart is an Associate Professor in the Adult Clinical Ph.D. Psychology Program at the University of Windsor (Ontario, Canada). Prior to assuming his position at Windsor, Dr. Hart held a two-year NIAAA training grant in Brown University Medical School's “Center for Alcohol and Addictions Studies,” in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. Whilst a Professor of Psychology at the University of Wales and University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, he served as a regular invited expert reviewer of grants submitted for possible funding to the “Welsh Office of Research & Development for Health and Social Care,” and “Alcohol Education Research Council.” Dr. Hart has received research funding totaling $500,000.00 Canadian dollars, and is Principal Investigator on a currently active grant on gambling addiction from the Ontario Problem Gambling Research Centre. Dr. Hart has over 40 publications and 90 conference presentations, many in the area of addictive behaviors.

Norman Fazaa

Norman Fazaa, M.A. is a doctoral candidate in Clinical Psychology at the University of Windsor, Ontario, Canada. His main research interest lies in the area of personality vulnerability to engaging in various expressions of suicidal behavior. He has been awarded the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention Research Award for his research in this area and has recently been awarded a Social Science and Humanities Research Council Doctoral Fellowhip to continue with his research pursuits in this area. Other accolades include the Certificate of Academic Excellence awarded by the Canadian Psychology Association, three Ontario Graduate Scholarships, and various other scholarships offered through universities he has attended.