Abstract
Objective
Two thirds of adults experience at least one lifetime traumatic incident. Specifically, childhood traumas (physical neglect, emotional neglect, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse) are associated with increased alcohol use. According to the self-medication hypothesis, alcohol is used to alleviate upsetting thoughts and memories. This may lead to greater impaired control over alcohol use (i.e., a breakdown of an intention to limit drinking). Utilizing mindfulness reduces maladaptive responses to trauma. Trauma and difficulties maintaining control (generally) have been examined with mindfulness as a mediator; however, control over alcohol use specifically, has not.
Methods
We analyzed data from a cross-sectional, student survey (N = 847, 49% female) utilizing path modeling. We examined mindfulness and impaired control over alcohol use as potential mediators between trauma and alcohol outcomes (i.e., drinks per drinking day [DPDD] and alcohol-related problems).
Results
Emotional neglect (EN) was the strongest predictor among five facets of trauma. Higher EN related to lower mindfulness (β = − 0.22; SE = 0.05; p ≤ 0.001) and greater impaired control over alcohol (β = 0.11; SE = 0.06; p = 0.05). Finally, EN was related to higher DPDD, mediated by mindfulness and impaired control over alcohol use (standardized indirect effect = 0.006; 95% CI, 0.002, 0.012).
Conclusion
These findings suggest potential mediating pathways from childhood trauma to alcohol-related outcomes via mindfulness and greater impaired control over alcohol use. Current research informs efforts to promote mindfulness interventions to reduce alcohol use and related problems among college students, especially those who have experienced childhood traumas and may experience elevated impaired control over alcohol use.
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Funding
This study was funded by NIH/NIAAA grant K01AA024160-01A1 to Julie A. Patock-Peckham and Burton Family Foundation’s (FP11815) grant to Social Addictions Impulse Lab (SAIL), NIH/NIAAA grant R21AA023368, NIH/NIAAA award UH2 AA026214, and support from the Mary F. Lane endowed professorship and the state of Florida to Robert Leeman.
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TF designed and executed the data analyses for the manuscript, analyzed the data, and wrote the paper. RFL assisted with the design and write up of the study. JC assisted with the data analyses, data, and write up of methods and results. DAB collaborated in the writing and editing of the final manuscript. JPP designed and executed the main study and collaborated in the writing and editing of the final manuscript. All authors approved the final version of the manuscript for submission.
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Frohe, T., Leeman, R.F., Cheong, J. et al. Novel Associations Among Trauma, Mindfulness, and Impaired Control Over Alcohol Use. Mindfulness 11, 606–614 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01285-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-019-01285-6