The Alcohol Helplessness Scale and its prediction of depression among problem drinkers

Event-specific scales commonly have greater power than generalized scales i n prediction of specific disorders and in testing mediator models for predi cting such disorders. Therefore, in a preliminary study, a 6-item Alcohol H elplessness Scale was constructed and found to be reliable for a sample of 98 problem drinkers. Hierarchical multiple regression and its derivative pa th analysis were used to test whether helplessness and self-efficacy modera te or mediate the link between alcohol dependence and depression, A test of a moderation model was not supported, whereas a test of a mediation model was supported. Helplessness and self-efficacy both significantly and indepe ndently mediated between alcohol dependence and depression. Nevertheless, a significant direct effect of alcohol dependence on depression also remaine d, (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.