Clinical Research Directory

Does Attachment Anxiety Moderate the Influence of Social Rejection on Alcohol Use Among Young Adults?

Research shows that heavy drinking patterns are linked to many harmful consequences including death, sexual assault, risky sexual behavior, and drug use. Given such harmful consequences, it is important to identify the risk-factors for heavy "in-the-moment" drinking. This study examines a potent, socially motivated trigger to problem drinking-namely, social rejection. In the present study, we employ a between-subjects experimental design with a sample of young adults (N=152; aged 21-25 years; 50% female) to examine how social rejection experiences are associated with drinking behavior as a function of attachment anxiety, changes in pain experience, and self-control.