title: Psychoactive drugs, alcohol, and stress and coping processes in older adults.
abstract: Data are presented on a) the relationship between psychoactive substance use and personal characteristics, b) the relationship between psychoactive substance use and appraisal of and coping with stressful situations, and c) the use of psychoactive substances specifically to cope with stress among older people. Data were provided by 141 65-to-74-year-old retired Caucasians who were assessed repeatedly over 6 months. Compared to national samples, subjects were relatively heavy users of alcohol and average users of psychoactive drugs. Use of alcohol increased with income, and drug use was associated with several psychosocial characteristics as well as with psychological and somatic health. Psychoactive substance use did not relate to the ways subjects appraised and coped with stressful encounters. Further, only a small number of subjects used drugs or alcohol specifically to help them cope in these encounters. The findings about psychoactive drug users are compared with other findings about misusers of drugs, and the risks associated with each type of drug use are discussed.
authors.affiliation: University of California, Berkeley 94720.
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Huffine
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Folkman
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lazarus
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012179:Retirement; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs