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. 2020 Jun 1:159:10.1016/j.paid.2020.109909.
doi: 10.1016/j.paid.2020.109909. Epub 2020 Feb 18.

Perfectionism discrepancy and falling short of the ideal self: Investigating drinking motives and impaired control on the road to alcohol-related problems

Jessica R Canning  1 , Julie A Patock-Peckham  2 , Kyle J Walters  3 , D C Bauman  2 , Tessa Frohe  4 , Robert F Leeman  4   5
Affiliations

Perfectionism discrepancy and falling short of the ideal self: Investigating drinking motives and impaired control on the road to alcohol-related problems

Jessica R Canning et al. Pers Individ Dif. .

Abstract

Self-Discrepancy Theory (Higgins, 1987) predicts that the difference between the ideal and the actual self will be associated with impaired-control-over-drinking (IC; dysregulated drinking beyond one's own limits) as well as alcohol-related-problems. According to Slaney et al. (2001) perfectionism is a multi-faceted personality trait which represents both adaptive (e.g. high-standards) and maladaptive (e.g. discrepancy) aspects. In particular, discrepancy has been associated with poorer coping approaches, which may suggest a Self-Medication route to IC. Yet, to date, no one has examined whether drinking-motives (e.g., social, enhancement, coping and conformity) mediate the relations between discrepancy and high standards and alcohol-outcomes such as IC. We used a structural equation model to test indirect associations of discrepancy and high-standards to both heavy-episodic-drinking and alcohol-related-problems through the mediating mechanisms of drinking-motives and IC. Results supported the distinction between discrepancy and high-standards consistent with the Self-Medication Hypothesis (Hersh & Hussong, 2009). Discrepancy was associated with poorer alcohol-outcomes through greater coping-motives, conformity-motives and IC. In contrast, higher-standards were associated with fewer alcohol-outcomes through less coping-motives, conformity-motives, and IC. This study illustrates the importance of personality factors such as discrepancy in the development of problematic alcohol-use suggesting that it might be a good target for intervention.

Keywords: Alcohol Problems; Alcohol Use; Drinking-Motives; Heavy-Episodic-Drinking; Impaired Control; Perfectionism.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Conceptual Model
Conceptual structural equation model with all hypothesized direct effects. Gender was used as a covariate for all outcomes and is excluded for parsimony.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Final fit model with significant direct paths. Gender was used as a covariate for all outcomes and is excluded for clarity. * p < .05; ** p < .01; *** p < .001
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