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Predictors of Frequency of Drinking to Cope in Socially Anxious Men and Women

Abstract Objectives: Frequent drinking to relieve anxiety increases the risk of alcohol problems. It is hypothesized that the high rate of comorbidity of alcohol-use disorders and anxiety disorders may be due, in part, to the practice of self-medication with alcohol. Of interest to researchers and clinicians are individual variables that predict the practice of frequent drinking to cope in individuals with marked anxiety. The present pilot study was conducted to examine this issue in men and women with social anxiety. Methods: Twenty individuals with high social anxiety (11 women) were included in the investigation. All participants endorsed using alcohol to relieve social discomfort. Participants completed a standardized assessment battery and a study-specific questionnaire regarding the practice (and frequency) of drinking for anxiety relief in social situations. Regression analyses were conducted to examine variables that predicted frequency of drinking to cope, including severity of social anxiety, alcohol expectancies, and degree of anxiety relief afforded by alcohol. Results: Results suggest that individuals who experience alcohol as a powerful anxiolytic most frequently use alcohol to “self-medicate.” In addition, tension reduction expectancies also predicted more frequent drinking to cope, though only for men. Conclusions: The results of this investigation suggest that follow-up studies be conducted to specifically examine the degree of anxiety relief from alcohol, and tension reduction expectancies as potentially important variables that may help identify who is at greatest risk for developing alcohol problems in this at-risk group.