Open AccessUnderstanding motives for and against hazardous drinking and change among returning veterans.
Author(s) -
Amy M. Schreiner,
Nicholas A. Livingston,
Meagan Heilman,
Toby Lynch,
Lisa Vittorio,
Deborah J. Brief,
Amy Rubin,
Justin L. Enggasser,
Monica Roy,
Marika Solhan,
Eric Helmuth,
David Rosenbloom,
Terence M. Keane
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
psychological services
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.855
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1939-148X
pISSN - 1541-1559
DOI - 10.1037/ser0000423
Subject(s) - psycinfo , intervention (counseling) , psychology , veterans affairs , thematic analysis , behavior change , randomized controlled trial , interpersonal communication , clinical psychology , qualitative research , medicine , psychiatry , medline , social psychology , social science , surgery , sociology , political science , law
The prevalence of hazardous drinking is elevated among returning veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan wars, particularly among returning veterans and those with co-occurring posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. Understanding the reasons for drinking as well as motivations for change can tremendously improve intervention efforts. Unfortunately, little is currently known regarding the motivations that might facilitate or hinder change among returning veterans. In the current study, we examined returning veterans' reasons to change or not change drinking through analysis of responses to an open-ended decisional balance exercise. We included 366 returning veterans selected from a larger sample of returning veterans enrolled in a web-based randomized-controlled trial of an online intervention for alcohol use and PTSD. We used qualitative content analysis to systematically classify responses into categories through identification of common themes. Top reasons to change/reduce drinking included reducing negative physical effects, improve finances, and expected social/interpersonal benefits of reduction or abstaining. Top reasons to continue drinking/not change included facilitation of social interaction, promote sleep, and reduce tension. The current study adds to our phenomenological understanding of motivations for and against changing drinking among returning veterans. Whereas many motives were consistent with those of nonveteran samples, others appear to distinguish, and are uniquely salient among, returning veterans (e.g., to manage sleep and PTSD symptoms). These results provide insight into key assessment and intervention points regarding hazardous drinking among returning veterans. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).