Personal and environmental risk factors as predictors of alcohol use, depression, and treatment-seeking: a longitudinal analysis of late-life problem drinkers

Abstract

We examined how personal risk factors (prior functioning, male, unmarried, early onset of drinking problems, and avoidance coping) and environmental risk factors (negative life events, chronic stressors, and friends' approval of drinking) predicted changes in older problem drinkers' (N = 659) adaptation over a 1-year interval. Personal risk factors independently predictive of poorer outcomes included poorer prior functioning, being male, and more use of avoidance coping strategies. Of environmental risk factors, negative life events, chronic health and spouse stressors, and having more friends who approved of drinking were independent predictors of poorer follow-up functioning and treatment seeking. Interactions between personal and environmental risk factors helped predict subsequent alcohol consumption and treatment seeking. For example, lighter drinkers were more likely than heavier drinkers to curtail alcohol use in response to new health events; friends more strongly influenced the treatment seeking of unmarried problem drinkers and individuals who used more avoidance coping strategies.