Drinking to cope with operational service: a longitudinal, prospective investigation into alcohol use and motivations to consume alcohol

Abstract

Previous research has suggested that the deployment experience can influence alcohol consumption and that characteristic differences can mediate alcohol related behaviours. This study investigated the drivers, predictors and correlates of the course of alcohol use in relation to military operational service. Differences in alcohol consumption behaviours from pre- to post-deployment were assessed for 676 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel deployed on operational service within the Middle East Area of Operations (MEAO) using a prospective longitudinal research design. Personality and coping styles, mental health risks trauma exposure and motivations to consume alcohol were also measured. One of the most prominent findings from this study is the influence that motivation to consume alcohol has on patterns of alcohol use. Interactions between motivations to consume alcohol, inherent personality characteristics and mental health measures were also found. This suggests that as well as being related to inherent characteristics and psychopathology, problematic use of alcohol is also a conscious choice. This research highlights the complex matrix of factors that contribute to problematic alcohol use following deployment. It highlights the importance of evaluating motivations to consume alcohol as a key contributor in the development and subsequent assessment and identification of post-deployment alcohol misuse. Early identification is vital and interventions that address alcohol consumption motivations in addition to personality and coping factors could play a promising role in the prevention as well as treatment of post-deployment problematic alcohol use.