Prospective and cross-sectional associations between affect, and frequency of alcohol use and binge drinking episodes in rural black men.

BACKGROUND: Black men may be especially prone to drinking-to-cope or drinking to alleviate negative affect in early adulthood due to a unique confluence of factors that impact drinking patterns in emerging and early adulthood. The current study examined these associations using a prospective longitudinal design among Black men in rural Georgia. We hypothesized that across time, increases in depression would be associated with decreases in state hope and perceived life chances. Similarly, we anticipated increases in depression and decreases in state hope and perceived life chances would be associated with a greater frequency of alcohol consumption and binge drinking episodes.

METHODS: Black men (N = 504) in rural communities were assessed at four timepoints across emerging adulthood. We examined between and within subject effects across time between harmful alcohol consumption and depression, state hope, and perceived life chances, using regression latent curve models with structured residuals (LCM-SR) and random intercept cross-lagged panel modeling (RI-CLPM).

RESULTS: Generally, depressive symptoms, hope, and perceived life chances were not prospectively associated with frequency of alcohol consumption or binge drinking episodes. Binge drinking episodes were associated with increase in subsequent depressive symptoms, but symptoms were not associated with increases in binge drinking.

CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that despite seeing increased depressive symptoms, decreased hope, and decreased life chances over time, these mood-related factors were not associated with drinking behaviors among this sample of rural Black men. Future research should explore alternative mechanisms that may drive consumption patterns in this marginalized population.