PRIMAL WORLD BELIEFS AND PERFECTIONISM AS PREDICTORS OF ALCOHOL USE

Problematic alcohol use is frequently associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety.A major shift in treating these conditions occurred with Beck's theory on beliefs about the self, the world, and the future, later expanded by the concept of Primal World Beliefs-fundamental beliefs about the world, such as whether it is safe, enticing, or good, which influence how individuals perceive and interact with their environment.Studies also suggest a link between problematic alcohol use and perfectionism, understood as a set of self-focused beliefs that heighten the fear of failure.Aim: This study examines the relationships of perfectionism (high standards and discrepancy) and primal beliefs with alcohol use levels.Method: The sample included 882 participants (52.5% women; Mage = 33.42;SD = 14.94).Measures included the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (Saunders et al., 1993), the PI-18 Primal Inventory (Clifton & Yaden, 2021), and the Short Almost Perfect Scale (Rice et al., 2014).Results: Regression analysis, controlling for age and gender, revealed that lower age, male gender, and lower levels of the Primary Primal belief "Good" predicted higher alcohol use.Perfectionism was not a significant predictor.Discussion: These findings contribute to health psychology by linking primal world beliefs to problematic alcohol use, with implications for the prevention of both alcohol misuse and depressive disorders.