Evaluating the stress-buffering role of alcohol consumption: variation by type of event and type of symptom.
The possible stress-buffering properties of alcohol consumption are examined. Data on psychological symptoms from 1270 rural adults supported both symptom dimension (affective/somatic) and type of event (catastrophic/noncatastrophic) as possible influences upon buffering properties. Non-catastrophic events showed the greatest buffer effects from alcohol use. For depressive symptoms the greatest buffer effect was produced by occasional drinking; moderate drinking had a less pronounced effect. For somatic symptoms, buffer effects were suggested for both moderate and heavy drinkers. No buffer effects from alcohol were observed for catastrophic events.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000188:drug therapy; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D000431:Ethanol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000431:Ethanol