The reinforcing value of alcohol in a drinking to cope paradigm.

BACKGROUND

Alcohol use is often regarded as a means of coping with sadness and distress. The present research was conducted to explore the relation between negative mood and the reinforcing value of alcohol, while clarifying the role of coping motives.

METHODS

Participants with a history of recent alcohol use (N=44; 72% female) attended a laboratory session and were randomly assigned to either a negative (n=22) or a neutral (n=22) mood condition. A manipulation check confirmed that participants in the negative mood condition, but not the neutral mood condition, displayed a significant increase in negative affect. The multiple choice procedure (MCP) was used to measure the reinforcing value of alcohol after the mood manipulation.

RESULTS

Regression models employing the MCP crossover point as the dependent variable and mood condition (neutral or negative) and drinking to cope as predictors indicated that a model with an interaction term accounted for the most variance.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that the relation between mood and the reinforcing value of alcohol is moderated by drinking to cope, and help clarify the conditions under which drinking to cope may lead to negative outcomes.