Date of Award
2005
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
Abstract
Involvement in both spiritual and religious pursuits has been associated with lower rates of alcohol use and related problems, but the factors that underlie the protective effects of religion are not clearly understood. Motivational models specify that motives for drinking are proximal causes of alcohol use that mediate the effects of more distal predictors such as alcohol outcome expectancies and personality. Previous research by Johnson et al. (2003, 2004, 2005a) suggested that in a college student sample, motives for drinking might mediate the relationship between religiousness and alcohol use and problems. The current study tested a series of path models treating motives for drinking, Negative Beliefs About Alcohol, social influences, and Well-Being as mediators of the relationship between religiousness and alcohol use in a sample of non-college, community dwelling adults (N = 211, 76 % female, mean age = 41, 65 % drank alcohol in past year). Secondary hypotheses examined factors that might moderate some of the relationships between variables in the model. Results suggested that Religious/Spiritual Involvement contributes to holding Negative Beliefs about Alcohol, and that these beliefs in turn lead to lower perceptions of drinking among peers and lower Social and Enhancement motives for drinking. In addition, Religious/Spiritual Involvement contributes to higher Well-Being and lower drinking to cope, while religious distress (Negative Religious Coping) contributes to lower Well-Being and higher coping motives. Additionally, the current study suggests that Life Stress, Belief in a Punishing God, and Negative Religious Support predict Negative Religious Coping. In the current study, Religious/Spiritual Involvement influenced Perceived Peer Drinking Environment largely indirectly via Negative Beliefs About Alcohol, while in a college student sample Perceived Peer Drinking Environment was influenced directly by Religious/Spiritual Involvement (Johnson et al., 2003, 2004, 2005a). Implications of results for future research and application are presented.
Recommended Citation
Drerup, Michelle Lynn, "Religion, Spirituality And Motives For Drinking In An Adult Community Sample" (2005). All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 1049.
https://scholars.indianastate.edu/etds/1049