Stressful life experiences, alcohol consumption, and alcohol use disorders: the epidemiologic evidence for four main types of stressors

Abstract

Background Exposure to stress is potentially important in the pathway to alcohol use and alcohol use disorders. Stressors occur at multiple time points across the life course, with varying degrees of chronicity and severity. Method We review evidence from epidemiologic studies on the relationship between four different stressors (fateful/catastrophic events, child maltreatment, common adult stressful life events in interpersonal, occupational, financial, and legal domains, and minority stress) and alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorders. Results Studies generally demonstrate an increase in alcohol consumption in response to exposure to terrorism or other disasters. Research has demonstrated little increase in incident alcohol use disorders, but individuals with a history of alcohol use disorders are more likely to report drinking to cope with the traumatic event. Childhood maltreatment is a consistent risk factor for early onset of drinking in adolescence and adult alcohol use disorders, and accumulating evidence suggests that specific polymorphisms may interact with child maltreatment to increase risk for alcohol consumption and disorder. Stressful life events such as divorce and job loss increase the risk of alcohol disorders, but epidemiologic consensus on the specificity of these associations across gender has not been reached. Finally, both perceptions of discrimination and objective indicators of discrimination are associated with alcohol use and alcohol use disorders among racial/ethnic and sexual minorities. Conclusion Taken together, these literatures demonstrate that exposure to stress is an important component in individual differences in risk for alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorders. However, many areas of this research remain to be studied, including greater attention to the role of various stressors in the course of alcohol use disorders and potential risk moderators when individuals are exposed to stressors.

Occupational Stress among Nigerian Police Officers: An Examination of the Coping Strategies and the Consequences

“…Research shows that one of the ways police officers cope with stress is by engaging in alcohol consumption (Brady & Pharm, 1999;Keyes, Hatzenbuehler, & Hasin, 2011;Siegrist & Rodel, (2006) also suggested the likely habitual use of tobacco by police officers. According to Smith, Devine, Leggat, & Ishitake, (2005).…”

Discrimination, Mental Health, and Substance Use Disorders Among Sexual Minority Populations

“…17 For example, women have nearly twice the prevalence of mental health disorders, including major depression, generalized anxiety, panic disorder, social phobia, and specific phobia, compared with men; in contrast, men show higher prevalences of alcohol and drug dependence. 18,19 Researchers have previously described a ''liability model'' of gender differences related to internalizing versus externalizing problems, 20 such that women tend to have a greater prevalence of internalizing disorders, while men have a higher prevalence of externalizing disorders. 17,18 Accordingly, the patterns of the associations between discrimination, mental health, and substance use disorders may differ by gender, such that sexual minority women who experience discrimination are more vulnerable to mental health disorders and sexual minority men who experience discrimination are more vulnerable to substance use disorders.…”

Interactive Effects of Childhood Maltreatment and Recent Stressful Life Events on Alcohol Consumption in Adulthood

“…To date, there is inconsistent evidence regarding whether risk for adverse alcohol-related outcomes associated with SLEs varies with gender (Keyes et al, 2011). A number of studies have found a stronger association of childhood maltreatment with excessive drinking and alcohol use disorders in women than men (Enoch, 2011;Simpson and Miller, 2002).…”