IMPACT OF THWARTED BELONGINGNESS ON ALCOHOL USE AMONG ADULTS AND THE ROLE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INFLUENCING THEIR RELATIONSHIP

Thwarted belongingness (TB) ,conceptualized by Joiner's Interpersonal Theory of Suicide arises from a persistent perception of social disconnection . Individuals experiencing TB may adopt unhealthy coping mechanisms such as alcohol use, as mentioned in the Self-Medication Hypothesis . While Physical Activity (PA) often acts as a protective factor against various psychological issues, its role in moderating the TB-alcohol use relationship remains unclear. This cross-sectional study constituted 182 Indian adults (18 - 44 years old), recruited using convenience sampling. Participants completed the INQ-15(TB), AUDIT (alcohol use) and IPAQ-SF (PA) measures. Statistical analyses included a t-test, and Pearson's correlation, Linear Regression analysis, and moderation analysis. Results revealed that Higher TB significantly associated with increased alcohol use. However, PA did not show any association between TB or alcohol use, nor did it moderate the TB-alcohol use link. These findings suggested that individuals experiencing TB may be at a greater risk for alcohol use, which supports both Joiner's theory and the Self-Medication hypothesis, while challenging assumptions about PA as a protective factor. Future studies may employ longitudinal methods, and further evaluate the complex association of physical activity on their relationship.