Adult attachment, maladaptive coping, alcohol consumption, and drinking-related problems

ABSTRACT

This study examined the relation between adult attachment and drinking-related problems among college students and how maladaptive, insecure attachment-based coping strategies and alcohol consumption explained such link. A total of 257 college students completed research questionnaires. Results indicated that individuals with a history of family addiction reported significantly more alcohol consumption and drinking-related problems. In addition, findings indicated significant indirect effect paths from both attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety to maladaptive deactivating coping, to greater alcohol consumption, and to drinking-related problems. On the other hand, high attachment anxiety was associated with more alcohol consumption which in turn, led to more alcohol-associated problems, but maladaptive hyperactivating coping was not associated with either alcohol consumption or drinking-related problems. Implications of findings, limitations, and future research directions are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Adult attachment
• maladaptive coping
• alcohol consumption
• drinking-related problems

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Chiachih DC Wang

Chiachih D.C Wang is an associate professor in the Psychology Department at the University of North Texas. His research interests include adult attachment, cross–cultural variation of attachment behavior, and well-being of international students and immigrant populations. He has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals such as Journal of Counseling Psychology, The Counseling Psychologist, Counselling Psychology Quarterly, and Journal of College Counseling.

Emma Anderson–White is a doctoral student in the Clinical Psychology program at Sam Houston State University. Her research interests include substance and alcohol use, motivation, and incarceration. This is her first peer–reviewed journal publication.

Emma Anderson-White

Ling Jin is an assistant professor at the University of Calgary. Her research interests include international students’ psychological adjustment, Asians’ collectivist stress coping, adult attachment, and acculturation. She has published studies in peer–reviewed journals such as Journal of Career Assessment and The Korean Journal of School Psychology.