Daily stress and alcohol consumption: modeling between-person and within-person ethnic variation in coping behavior.
OBJECTIVE
Using a daily diary approach, the current study evaluated the relationship between coping and alcohol consumption using a large, multiethnic sample. The primary goals of this study were to (a) identify coping strategies that are either protective or risk factors for alcohol consumption and (b) model between-ethnic and within-ethnic group variation for these relations.


METHODS
College students (N = 365, 69.0% female) were recruited via flyers, course/club presentations, and university seminars. Participants completed Internet-based daily diaries over the course of 5 days and reported specifically on a target stressful event, how they coped with the stressful event, and the amount of alcohol consumed on a daily level.


RESULTS
Use of more avoidance-oriented coping strategies (minimization of stressor, emotional rumination) and social support were significantly associated with more alcohol consumption. Ethnicity, however, did moderate some coping-alcohol associations. Use of religious coping was associated with less alcohol consumption and minimization of the stressor was associated with more alcohol consumption in African Americans; use of social support was associated with more alcohol consumption in Asian Americans; and use of problem-focused coping was associated with less alcohol consumption in Whites.


CONCLUSIONS
Three maladaptive or risky coping strategies with respect to alcohol consumption were identified using an ecologically valid methodology. However, ethnic-specific variation of these risky (and protective) coping factors was identified. The findings highlight the importance of considering both between-ethnic and within-ethnic group variation with respect to the stress/coping and alcohol consumption.
Department of Psychology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-4611, USA.
Arianna A
AA
Aldridge-Gerry
Scott C
SC
Roesch
Feion
F
Villodas
Cameron
C
McCabe
Queenie K
QK
Leung
Morgan
M
Da Costa
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D001213:Asian; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D014495:Universities; D044465:White People; D055815:Young Adult