The role of alcohol consumption motives in the relationships between psychological distress, emotional dysregulation, and problematic alcohol consumption. A mediation model

Abstract The objectives of the current study were to investigate the potential mediating role of alcohol consumption motives in the relationships between psychological distress and problematic alcohol consumption, and emotional dysregulation and problematic alcohol consumption. This study included 292 participants from Romania, with 82.5% female, ranging in age from 19 to 62 years (M = 28.71; SD = 9.34). The participants completed instruments assessing psychological distress, emotional dysregulation, drinking motives, problematic alcohol consumption, and socio-demographic data. Our findings indicate that psychological distress and emotional dysregulation predict problematic alcohol consumption. Additionally, social, conformity, and coping motives mediated the relationships between psychological distress and problematic alcohol consumption, as well as between emotional dysregulation and problematic alcohol consumption. Meanwhile, the enhancement motive did not mediate the aforementioned relationships. This may be attributed to its association with seeking positive experiences rather than managing negative emotions, making it less relevant for individuals experiencing psychological distress in the Romanian cultural context, where alcohol is often used for social engagement or conformity rather than enhancement. Our study contributes to advancing the knowledge from the literature regarding how people engage in problematic alcohol consumption, while highlighting the importance of consumption motives. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.