University of Twente Student Theses
The Association Between Alcohol Dependence and Craving in Response to S tress and Alcohol Cues : The Moderating Role of Biopsychosocial Factors
Liewald, M. (2016) The Association Between Alcohol Dependence and Craving in Response to S tress and Alcohol Cues : The Moderating Role of Biopsychosocial Factors.
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| Abstract: | Craving is a prominent feature of alcohol dependence, therefore getting a deeper understanding of craving is crucial to subsequently provide better treatment for alcoholics. Stress and alcohol cues are considerably increasing the risk of craving, however craving remains a complex and multifactorial phenomenon. To get more insight in the concept, this study investigated the effect of the biopsychosocial factors sex, age, educational level, drinks per week, years of problematic alcohol use and lifetime tobacco use on the relationship between alcohol dependence and stress and alcohol cue induced craving. The moderator analyses to do so were based on a stress and an alcohol cue induced craving scale generated from a craving questionnaire by several psychometric tests. The questionnaire contained data of 228 participants aged 21 to 75 years who took part in an online treatment programme for alcoholics based on own initiative who self-administered the craving questionnaire in an early programme phase. The moderator analyses revealed no significant results. Although this is not in line with previous research the uniqueness of the sample including alcohol dependent subjects who self-administered the questionnaire based on own initiative might have contributed to the discrepancy between the current study’s findings and past research. The results of the psychometric tests showed that stress induced craving was consistently mirrored in another dimension than alcohol cue induced craving, showing that they are distinct dimensions of the questionnaire. However, also latent constructs were disclosed, indicating that the scales may not be unidimensional. Regarding future research on stress and alcohol cue induced craving it is highly suggested to further examine biopsychosocial factors by applying similar, realistic samples to ultimately provide more tailored treatment for alcohol dependent individuals more susceptible for stress or alcohol cues. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/70082 |
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