Attachment and alcohol use amongst athletes: the mediating role of conscientiousness and alexithymia

Addict Behav. 2014 Feb;39(2):487-90. doi: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.10.022. Epub 2013 Oct 17.

Abstract

Objective: The present study aims to explore the mediating effects of conscientiousness and alexithymia in the relationship between parental attachment style and alcohol use in a large sample of athletic young people.

Method: Participants included 434 French sport sciences students. Alcohol use, parental attachment style, conscientiousness and alexithymia were assessed. The hypotheses were tested by using regression and bootstrapping mediation analyses.

Results: Maternal insecure attachment style is positively associated with alcohol use. The current study highlights a multiple pathway in this relationship. The results reveal the mediating effect of low conscientiousness and alexithymia between maternal insecure attachment and alcohol use.

Conclusion: Athletes' alcohol use seems to be the result of a complex association of underlying psychological factors.

Keywords: Alcohol; Alexithymia; Athletes; Attachment styles; Conscientiousness; Mediation.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Affective Symptoms / epidemiology*
  • Alcohol-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Athletes / psychology*
  • Athletes / statistics & numerical data
  • Child of Impaired Parents / psychology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mother-Child Relations / psychology*
  • Multivariate Analysis
  • Object Attachment
  • Peer Group
  • Self Report
  • Students / psychology*
  • Students / statistics & numerical data
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Young Adult