Citation

Garner AR, Shorey RC, Anderson S, Stuart GL. Mindfulness (N Y) 2021; 12(11): 2681-2692.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s12671-021-01730-5

PMID

35450415

PMCID

PMC9017548

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Aggressive behaviors are consistently linked to alcohol use and are over-represented among individuals in substance misuse treatment compared to the general population. Trait mindfulness (i.e., a multifaceted construct including attending to and accepting experiences) had an inverse relationship with aggression such that greater trait mindfulness may attenuate the risk alcohol use poses for aggression.

METHOD: We examined the moderating effect of the five facets of trait mindfulness on the relationship between alcohol use/problems and aggressive attitudes, physical aggression, and verbal aggression among 516 men in residential treatment for substance use disorders.

RESULTS: Explication of the significant interactions utilizing the Johnson-Neyman technique revealed alcohol use/problems positively related to aggressive attitudes for men with below average and average Nonreactivity and Acting mindfulness facets. The positive relationship between alcohol use/problems and verbal aggression was present among men below average in Nonreactivity and Acting. Alcohol use/problems positively related to physical aggression among men below average and average in the mindfulness facets of Describe and Acting. Furthermore, alcohol use/problems positively related to aggressive attitudes and physical aggression among men average or above average in the mindfulness facet of Observe.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that among men who misuse substances, the relation between alcohol use and aggression may be conditional and influenced by deficits in trait mindfulness.

Language: en

Keywords

Alcohol use; Aggression; Mindfulness