Problem drinking behavior in two community-based samples of adults: Influence of gender, coping, loneliness, and depression

The authors examined the extent to which the relationships among coping, lo neliness, depression, and 3 problematic drinking behaviors varied as a func tion of gender in 2 community-based samples of young adults (19-39 years ol d). Regression analyses revealed that (a) after controlling for the quantit y and frequency of alcohol typically consumed, the 3 psychosocial variables were significantly related to frequency of intoxication, binge drinking, a nd drink tossing behaviors; (b) not all predictors were related to all prob lem drinking behaviors; (c) the predictors that were significant varied as a function of the 2 cohorts; and (d) with the exception of frequency of int oxication in the younger cohort, the associations between the predictors an d problematic drinking behaviors tended to be similar for men and women. Fu ture directions for research are discussed.