Emotion dysregulation as a mechanism linking anxiety and hazardous drinking among Latinos in primary care.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Research suggests that Latinos experience significantly more mental health and alcohol use problems than non-Latino whites. However, relatively little is known about the mechanisms underlying alcohol use in this population. One factor associated with excessive alcohol use in Latinos is anxiety. A potential explanatory mechanism for this relationship is emotion dysregulation, as emotion dysregulation in the context of anxiety may lead to alcohol use problems/disorders. The aim of the current study was to examine the indirect effect of anxiety, through emotion dysregulation, on drinking severity and probable hazardous drinking in Latinos.

METHODS

Latino adults (N = 264) were recruited from a primary care health clinic as part of a larger ongoing study examining mental health among Latinos in primary care. Participants were interviewed using the MINI and then completed various self-report assessments (in Spanish). Structural equation modeling was used to evaluate model fit.

RESULTS

Structural models fit the data well. Additionally, there were statistically significant indirect effects of anxiety via emotion dysregulation on drinking severity and probable screen for hazardous drinking.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Anxiety may contribute to alcohol use problems due to an overall tendency to engage in maladaptive attempts to regulate emotions.

SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE

Targeting emotion dysregulation in the context of anxiety and hazardous alcohol use among Latinos may be one therapeutic strategy to reduce severity of alcohol use (and hazardous drinking). (Am J Addict 2017;26:615-622).