Alcohol use in late adolescence and early adulthood: The role of generalized anxiety disorder and drinking to cope motives

Maddy L. Dyer; Jon Heron; Matthew Hickman; Marcus R. Munafò

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.04.044

Alcohol use in late adolescence and early adulthood: The role of generalized anxiety disorder and drinking to cope motives

Maddy L. Dyer, Jon Heron, Matthew Hickman, Marcus R. Munafò

Vice Chancellor's Office

University of Bristol

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

20 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Background: The relationship between anxiety and alcohol use is unclear, and moderating factors, such as drinking to cope (DTC) motives, may explain mixed findings.

Methods: Using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), we examined associations between generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) at age 18 and frequent drinking, frequent bingeing, hazardous drinking, and harmful drinking at ages 18 (unadjusted n = 3462) and 21 (unadjusted n = 2076), in a sample of late adolescent drinkers. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic, parental, and adolescent confounders. We also examined whether DTC motives influenced the strength and direction of associations between GAD and alcohol use.

Results: GAD was positively associated with all alcohol outcomes at baseline (unadjusted OR (95% CI): frequent drinking 1.40 (1.02–1.91); frequent bingeing 1.40 (0.96–2.04); hazardous drinking 1.44 (1.08–1.92); harmful drinking 1.98 (1.22–3.23)). GAD increased the odds of harmful drinking at age 21 (unadjusted OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.09–2.73), but there was no clear evidence of a longitudinal relationship between GAD and the other alcohol use outcomes. There was no clear evidence of a GAD x DTC interaction on alcohol use at ages 18 or 21. Findings were consistent across various multiply imputed datasets.

Conclusions: In adolescence, GAD symptoms are associated with frequent drinking, frequent bingeing, hazardous drinking, and harmful drinking. In early adulthood, associations remain for harmful drinking only. DTC motives do not appear to moderate the relationship at either age.

Original language	English
Article number	107480
Journal	Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Volume	204
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.04.044
Publication status	Published - 1 Nov 2019

Acknowledgements

We are extremely grateful to all the families who took part in this study, the midwives for their help in recruiting them, and the whole ALSPAC team, which includes interviewers, computer and laboratory technicians, clerical workers, research scientists, volunteers, managers, receptionists and nurses.

Funding

The UK Medical Research Council and Wellcome (Grant ref: 102215/2/13/2) and the University of Bristol provide core support for ALSPAC. This publication is the work of the authors and MD will serve as a guarantor for the contents of this paper. A comprehensive list of grants funding is available on the ALSPAC website (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/alspac/external/documents/grant-acknowledgements.pdf).

Keywords

Alcohol
ALSPAC
Drinking-To-Cope
Generalized anxiety disorder
Longitudinal

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Toxicology
Pharmacology
Psychiatry and Mental health
Pharmacology (medical)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.04.044Licence: CC BY

Cite this

@article{8d4ce0c4b8314c478f3b3b003b192931,

title = "Alcohol use in late adolescence and early adulthood: The role of generalized anxiety disorder and drinking to cope motives",

abstract = "Background: The relationship between anxiety and alcohol use is unclear, and moderating factors, such as drinking to cope (DTC) motives, may explain mixed findings. Methods: Using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), we examined associations between generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) at age 18 and frequent drinking, frequent bingeing, hazardous drinking, and harmful drinking at ages 18 (unadjusted n = 3462) and 21 (unadjusted n = 2076), in a sample of late adolescent drinkers. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic, parental, and adolescent confounders. We also examined whether DTC motives influenced the strength and direction of associations between GAD and alcohol use. Results: GAD was positively associated with all alcohol outcomes at baseline (unadjusted OR (95% CI): frequent drinking 1.40 (1.02–1.91); frequent bingeing 1.40 (0.96–2.04); hazardous drinking 1.44 (1.08–1.92); harmful drinking 1.98 (1.22–3.23)). GAD increased the odds of harmful drinking at age 21 (unadjusted OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.09–2.73), but there was no clear evidence of a longitudinal relationship between GAD and the other alcohol use outcomes. There was no clear evidence of a GAD x DTC interaction on alcohol use at ages 18 or 21. Findings were consistent across various multiply imputed datasets. Conclusions: In adolescence, GAD symptoms are associated with frequent drinking, frequent bingeing, hazardous drinking, and harmful drinking. In early adulthood, associations remain for harmful drinking only. DTC motives do not appear to moderate the relationship at either age.",

keywords = "Alcohol, ALSPAC, Drinking-To-Cope, Generalized anxiety disorder, Longitudinal",

author = "Dyer, {Maddy L.} and Jon Heron and Matthew Hickman and Munaf{\`o}, {Marcus R.}",

year = "2019",

month = nov,

day = "1",

doi = "10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.04.044",

language = "English",

volume = "204",

journal = "Drug and Alcohol Dependence",

issn = "0376-8716",

publisher = "Elsevier Ireland Ltd",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Alcohol use in late adolescence and early adulthood

T2 - The role of generalized anxiety disorder and drinking to cope motives

AU - Dyer, Maddy L.

AU - Heron, Jon

AU - Hickman, Matthew

AU - Munafò, Marcus R.

PY - 2019/11/1

Y1 - 2019/11/1

N2 - Background: The relationship between anxiety and alcohol use is unclear, and moderating factors, such as drinking to cope (DTC) motives, may explain mixed findings. Methods: Using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), we examined associations between generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) at age 18 and frequent drinking, frequent bingeing, hazardous drinking, and harmful drinking at ages 18 (unadjusted n = 3462) and 21 (unadjusted n = 2076), in a sample of late adolescent drinkers. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic, parental, and adolescent confounders. We also examined whether DTC motives influenced the strength and direction of associations between GAD and alcohol use. Results: GAD was positively associated with all alcohol outcomes at baseline (unadjusted OR (95% CI): frequent drinking 1.40 (1.02–1.91); frequent bingeing 1.40 (0.96–2.04); hazardous drinking 1.44 (1.08–1.92); harmful drinking 1.98 (1.22–3.23)). GAD increased the odds of harmful drinking at age 21 (unadjusted OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.09–2.73), but there was no clear evidence of a longitudinal relationship between GAD and the other alcohol use outcomes. There was no clear evidence of a GAD x DTC interaction on alcohol use at ages 18 or 21. Findings were consistent across various multiply imputed datasets. Conclusions: In adolescence, GAD symptoms are associated with frequent drinking, frequent bingeing, hazardous drinking, and harmful drinking. In early adulthood, associations remain for harmful drinking only. DTC motives do not appear to moderate the relationship at either age.

AB - Background: The relationship between anxiety and alcohol use is unclear, and moderating factors, such as drinking to cope (DTC) motives, may explain mixed findings. Methods: Using the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC), we examined associations between generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) at age 18 and frequent drinking, frequent bingeing, hazardous drinking, and harmful drinking at ages 18 (unadjusted n = 3462) and 21 (unadjusted n = 2076), in a sample of late adolescent drinkers. Analyses were adjusted for sociodemographic, parental, and adolescent confounders. We also examined whether DTC motives influenced the strength and direction of associations between GAD and alcohol use. Results: GAD was positively associated with all alcohol outcomes at baseline (unadjusted OR (95% CI): frequent drinking 1.40 (1.02–1.91); frequent bingeing 1.40 (0.96–2.04); hazardous drinking 1.44 (1.08–1.92); harmful drinking 1.98 (1.22–3.23)). GAD increased the odds of harmful drinking at age 21 (unadjusted OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.09–2.73), but there was no clear evidence of a longitudinal relationship between GAD and the other alcohol use outcomes. There was no clear evidence of a GAD x DTC interaction on alcohol use at ages 18 or 21. Findings were consistent across various multiply imputed datasets. Conclusions: In adolescence, GAD symptoms are associated with frequent drinking, frequent bingeing, hazardous drinking, and harmful drinking. In early adulthood, associations remain for harmful drinking only. DTC motives do not appear to moderate the relationship at either age.

KW - Alcohol

KW - ALSPAC

KW - Drinking-To-Cope

KW - Generalized anxiety disorder

KW - Longitudinal

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85075408142&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.04.044

DO - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.04.044

M3 - Article

C2 - 31706711

AN - SCOPUS:85075408142

SN - 0376-8716

VL - 204

JO - Drug and Alcohol Dependence

JF - Drug and Alcohol Dependence

M1 - 107480

ER -

Alcohol use in late adolescence and early adulthood: The role of generalized anxiety disorder and drinking to cope motives

Abstract

Acknowledgements

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Cite this