Addressing social stressors in a brief motivational interview improve mental health symptoms for Latinx heavy drinkers

Objective Depressive and anxiety symptoms co‐occur with hazardous drinking among Latinxs. This secondary analysis of a clinical trial to reduce hazardous drinking (motivational interviewing adapted to address social stressors [CAMI] vs. motivational interviewing [MI]) examined effects on anxiety/depressive symptoms. Discrimination and acculturation were examined as moderators. Methods Latinx ( n  = 296) hazardous drinkers (2+ occasions/month of heavy drinking; 4/5 drinks/occasion, females/males) were randomized to CAMI/MI. Generalized estimating equations analyzed how treatment conditions and interactions were related to depressive and anxiety symptoms after controlling for covariates. Results Baseline symptoms (anxiety, depression) exceeded clinical thresholds (Anxiety ≥8, M  = 14.62, SD  = 13.52; Depression ≥ 12, M  = 18.78, SD  = 12.57). Cultural adaptation of motivational interviewing (CAMI) showed significantly lower anxiety and depressive symptoms (6/12 months, respectively) than MI. CAMI with high baseline discrimination reported significantly less depression than MI (12 months). Conclusions Explicitly addressing social stressors may be a beneficial adjunct to treatment for Latinx drinkers.