Benefit finding as a moderator of the relationship between spirituality/religiosity and drinking

Abstract

This study evaluated benefit finding as a moderator of the relationship between spiritual and religious attitudes and drinking. Previous research indicates that undergraduates who drink heavily experience negative alcohol-related consequences. Literature also suggests that spirituality and religiosity (S/R) is protective against heavy drinking (e.g., Yonker, Schnabelrauch, & DeHaan, 2012) and that finding meaning, which is conceptually related to benefit finding, is negatively associated with alcohol use (e.g., Wells, 2010). Seven hundred undergraduate students completed study materials including measures of drinking, benefit finding, and S/R. Based on previous research, we expected that S/R and benefit finding would be negatively associated with drinking. Furthermore, we expected that benefit finding would moderate the association between S/R and drinking, such that S/R would be more negatively associated with drinking among those higher in benefit finding. Consistent with expectations, a negative association between S/R and drinking was present, and was stronger among those high in benefit finding. These findings extend previous research by demonstrating that the protective effect of S/R on drinking appears to be particularly true among those who find benefit following traumatic experiences. This study extends previous research showing that S/R is negatively associated with drinking by evaluating benefit finding (measured via the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) as a potential moderator of the relationship between S/R and drinking. This study contributes to the alcohol literature seeking to understand and identify individual factors in drinking and determine how S/R and benefit finding relate to drinking.

Post-traumatic growth, stressful life events, and relationships with substance use behaviors among alternative high school students: A prospective study

“…C. Low et al, 2012) that binge drinking may be used as a coping response elicited by a single acute event (e.g., romantic break-up, loss of a job), rather than by the accumulation of lower level stressors (e.g., financial, or school-related). Further, our finding extends prior work in which PTG was found to be negatively associated with binge drinking among university students in a cross-sectional study (Foster et al, 2013). These results provide evidence for a promising approach to combat binge drinking, the pattern of alcohol use that has been deemed the greatest concern from a public health perspective (Johnston et al, 2010).…”

Religiosity, race/ethnicity, and alcohol use behaviors in the United States

“…There are several ways in which public religiosity may increase resiliency and limit alcohol use problems (Dennis et al . 2009; Foster et al . 2013; Sukhwal & Suman, 2013).…”

The prevalence of religiosity and association between religiosity and alcohol use, other drug use, and risky sexual behaviours among grade 8-10 learners in Western Cape, South Africa

“…One proposed mechanisms through which religiosity is thought to influence positive health outcomes or behaviours is by imparting meaning, purpose in life, and peace of mind to individuals. Some commentators have argued that religiosity is associated with benefit finding, which refers to the phenomenon of finding positive meaning in negative events [37]. In the face of stressful or traumatic events, those who are higher on religiosity may cope better and be less likely to resort to the use of alcohol or other drugs as coping mechanisms [37].…”

“…Some commentators have argued that religiosity is associated with benefit finding, which refers to the phenomenon of finding positive meaning in negative events [37]. In the face of stressful or traumatic events, those who are higher on religiosity may cope better and be less likely to resort to the use of alcohol or other drugs as coping mechanisms [37]. Furthermore, religiosity also involves social interaction and cohesion within a social (religious) group where the social norms typically discourage engaging in behaviours that may be harmful or risky for health (such as avoiding drugs and alcohol) or may be considered to be morally unacceptable, such as sex before marriage [31, 38, 39].…”

“…Being religious is not synonymous with having high religiosity. Being a religious person could mean one believes in or belongs to a certain religious faith, while religiosity refers to how frequently one attends organized and non-organized religious activities, worship services, how often one reads religious books or other reading materials, and other domains such as attitude towards religion and religious practices irrespective of the faith being followed [37]. In most studies, whether using a scale or a single item, religiosity has been assessed as the frequency of attending religious activities [32, 41–43].…”