Social Anxiety and Alcohol-Related Negative Consequences Among College Drinkers: Do Protective Behavioral Strategies Mediate the Association?

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2014

School

Psychology

Abstract

The link between social anxiety and alcohol-related negative consequences among college students has been well documented. Protective behavioral strategies are cognitive–behavioral strategies that college students use in an effort to reduce harm while they are drinking. In the current study we examined the mediating role of the 2 categories of protective behavioral strategies (i.e., controlled consumption and serious harm reduction) in the relationship that social anxiety symptoms have with alcohol-related negative consequences. Participants were 572 undergraduates who completed measures of social anxiety, alcohol use, negative consequences of alcohol use, and protective behavioral strategy use. Only serious harm reduction strategies emerged as a mediator of the association that social anxiety symptoms had with alcohol-related negative consequences. Clinical and research implications are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Publication Title

Psychology of Addictive Behaviors

Volume

28

Issue

3

First Page

887

Last Page

892

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