Cognitive Motivations for Drinking among Alcoholics: Factor Structure and Correlates

Abstract

The aims of this study were to: a) Identify factors reflecting reasons for drinking and expectancies regarding the effects of drinking among inpatient alcoholics; b) Examine the relationship between these cognitive "motivations" for drinking and both patterns of alcohol consumption and various personal and social consequences of consumption. The factors which emerged relate to negative mood reduction, positive mood enhancement, and social functioning. Although the factors identified in this investigation were not associated with quantity of alcohol consumed, small to moderate associations were found between scores on three of four factors and a variety of adverse physical and occupational consequences of alcohol abuse.