Effects of Drinking Psychology and Emotional State on Alcohol Use Disorder

Abstract

Objectives ： This study was conducted in an effort to evaluate the effects of drinking psychology and emotional state on alcohol use disorder (AUD) in male adults drinking alcohol. Methods ： Participants consisting of male alcohol drinkers between 18 and 65 years of age were recruited through advertisements from January 2018 to November 2018. Participants who were diagnosed with cognitive disorders such as dementia and damaged brains were excluded. In total, 197 participants were recruited, and these were divided into three groups of social drinking, hazardous drinking, and AUD. The comparison of drinking psychology was conducted using the Motivational Structure Questionnaire for Alcoholics (MSQ-A), Views of Drinking, and the Alcohol Outcome Expectancies Scale (AES). The comparison of emotional state was conducted using the Self-Esteem Scale (SES), the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI). Results ： The scores of STAI and negative expectation of AES were higher in the AUD group than in the social drinking and hazardous drinking groups. In addition, the scores of the factors of enhancement, coping, and socialization in MSQ-A were found to be high in both the hazardous drinking and AUD groups. Further, the scores of the factors of cohesive and entertaining in Views of Drinking were found to be high in both the hazardous drinking and AUD groups. Conclusion : Our findings suggest that drinking psychology and emotional state have a significant influence on AUD.