Mindfulness as a mediator of the association between adverse childhood experiences and alcohol use and consequences.

Mindfulness as a mediator of the association between adverse childhood experiences and alcohol use and consequences. Addict Behav. 2018 Apr 04;84:92-98 Authors: Brett EI, Espeleta HC, Lopez SV, Leavens ELS, Leffingwell TR Abstract One-third of college students report past-year heavy episodic drinking, making college student alcohol use an important area for continued research. Research has consistently linked early experiences of adversity to problematic substance use in adolescence and adulthood. Given the negative health consequences associated with heavy episodic drinking, it is imperative to identify mechanisms that contribute to this relation. Low levels of mindfulness have been linked to early adversity as well as impulsivity and alcohol use, therefore, the current study aims to examine the mediating role of mindfulness in the relation between early adversity and current alcohol use and consequences. Undergraduate students (N = 385) at a Midwestern university completed an online questionnaire assessing experiences of childhood adversity, trait mindfulness, and current alcohol use and related consequences. Results indicated that increased adverse experiences and lower levels of mindfulness predicted both increased alcohol consumption and consequences (ps < 0.025), with mindfulness mediating the relationships. Mindfulness is a predictor of alcohol outcomes and appears to mediate the relation between early adversity and...
Source: Addictive Behaviors - Category: Addiction Authors: Tags: Addict Behav Source Type: research