Stress and coping in rural women with alcohol and other drug disorders.

Alcohol and other drug disorders (AOD) are a growing problem among women with estimates as high as 11 million U.S. women affected. This is a report of the results of two studies investigating risk factors for AOD disorders in rural women, a population that is difficult to access. Samples of the two studies were combined for a total of 267 women. Analyses focus on stress, coping, alcohol expectancies, and self-esteem. Results indicate that rural women with AOD disorders experience more stressors and fewer uplifting events, have fewer coping resources, and use more emotion-focused coping strategies than women without AOD disorders.