Solitary heavy drinking, social relationships, and negative mood regulation in college drinkers

Abstract

In college students, solitary (i.e., while alone) heavy episodic drinking is associated with depression, suicidal ideation, drinking to cope, and having greater alcohol-related problems than heavy drinking only in social contexts. This study explored the possible explanatory factors for solitary heavy drinking. Social (n = 58) and solitary heavy episodic drinking (n = 32) emerging adult college students were compared in regards to: alcohol-related problems and dependence severity, negative affect, social relationship issues, socially related coping skills, and negative mood regulation. Multiple analyses of covariance revealed that solitary heavy drinkers were significantly higher in alcohol-related problems, severity of dependence, suicidal ideation, hopelessness, depression, loneliness, and drinking to cope and were lower in negative mood regulation expectancies and social competence. Heavy drinking groups did not differ in social network size, perceived social support, or in their drinking social network size or satisfaction. Our findings suggest that solitary heavy drinkers are not socially isolated or lacking in social support; however, they do experience greater social discomfort and difficulties with negative mood regulation than social heavy drinkers. Interventions focused on depression, affect regulation, adaptive coping, and alcohol abuse would be helpful with this population to address their related problems.