A Longitudinal Mediation Model of Negative Emotionality, Coping Motives and Drinking Intensity Among Individuals Receiving Community Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder

Abstract

Abstract Aims Negative emotionality is a key domain in frameworks measuring heterogeneity in alcohol use disorder (AUD), such as the Addictions Neuroclinical Assessment (ANA). Recent research has examined the construct validity of the ANA negative emotionality domain, but has not examined whether this domain demonstrates predictive validity for drinking outcomes. In this study, we examined the association between self-reported negative emotionality at baseline and drinking intensity 1 year following AUD treatment initiation. We also assessed whether coping motives for alcohol use at 6 months following treatment initiation and changes in coping motives mediated this association. Methods This was a secondary data analysis of a multisite prospective study of individuals entering AUD treatment (n = 263; 61.6% male; mean age = 33.8). Measures of coping motives and drinking intensity captured those who experienced a lapse to drinking. The associations between the ANA negative emotionality domain, coping motives and drinking intensity over time were assessed using a latent growth curve mediation model. Results The ANA negative emotionality domain at baseline was indirectly associated with greater 7–12-month drinking intensity through higher coping motives at 6 months. Negative emotionality was not related to change in coping motives over the assessment period and change in coping motives was not related to 7–12-month drinking intensity. Conclusions This analysis provides evidence for the predictive validity of the ANA negative emotionality domain for coping motives and drinking intensity among treatment seekers who experienced a lapse to drinking. Coping motives may be an important target in AUD treatment among those high in negative emotionality.