DRINKING TO REGULATE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE EMOTIONS - A MOTIVATIONAL MODEL OF ALCOHOL-USE

The present study proposed and tested a motivational model of alcohol use in which people are hypothesized to use alcohol to regulate both p ositive and negative emotions. Two central premises underpin this mode l: (a) that enhancement and coping motives for alcohol use are proxima l determinants of alcohol use and abuse through which the influence of expectancies, emotions, and other individual differences are mediated and (b) that enhancement and coping motives represent phenomenologica lly distinct behaviors having both unique antecedents and consequences . This model was tested in 2 random samples (1 of adults, 1 of adolesc ents) using a combination of moderated regression and path analysis co rrected for measurement error. Results revealed strong support for the hypothesized model in both samples and indicate the importance of dis tinguishing psychological motives for alcohol use.