The Alcohol Helplessness Scale and its prediction of depression among problem drinkers

✍ Scribed by Gomathi Sitharthan; Michael J. Hough; Thiagarajan Sitharthan; David J. Kavanagh

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2001
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 88 KB
• Volume: 57
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-9762
• DOI: 10.1002/jclp.1108

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Event‐specific scales commonly have greater power than generalized scales in prediction of specific disorders and in testing mediator models for predicting such disorders. Therefore, in a preliminary study, a 6‐item Alcohol Helplessness Scale was constructed and found to be reliable for a sample of 98 problem drinkers. Hierarchical multiple regression and its derivative path analysis were used to test whether helplessness and self‐efficacy moderate or mediate the link between alcohol dependence and depression. A test of a moderation model was not supported, whereas a test of a mediation model was supported. Helplessness and self‐efficacy both significantly and independently mediated between alcohol dependence and depression. Nevertheless, a significant direct effect of alcohol dependence on depression also remained. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 57: 1445–1457, 2001.