Attachment and alcohol use amongst athletes: the mediating role of conscientiousness and alexithymia.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aims to explore the mediating effects of conscientiousness and alexithymia in the relationship between parental attachment style and alcohol use in a large sample of athletic young people.


METHODS
Participants included 434 French sport sciences students. Alcohol use, parental attachment style, conscientiousness and alexithymia were assessed. The hypotheses were tested by using regression and bootstrapping mediation analyses.


RESULTS
Maternal insecure attachment style is positively associated with alcohol use. The current study highlights a multiple pathway in this relationship. The results reveal the mediating effect of low conscientiousness and alexithymia between maternal insecure attachment and alcohol use.


CONCLUSIONS
Athletes' alcohol use seems to be the result of a complex association of underlying psychological factors.
Université Paris Sud, France. Electronic address: fanny.andres@u-psud.fr.
Fanny
F
Andres
Carole
C
Castanier
Christine
C
Le Scanff
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D056352:Athletes / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016241:Child of Impaired Parents / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations / Q000523:psychology*; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009769:Object Attachment; D010379:Peer Group; D057566:Self Report; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Alcohol; Alexithymia; Athletes; Attachment styles; Conscientiousness; Mediation