Anxiety and Depression as Predictors of Alcohol Cravings Among Adolescents: Considering the Role of Family Cohesion

The goal of the current study was to examine anxiety, depression, and family cohesion as well as the interactions between mental health symptoms and family cohesion as predictors of cravings among adolescents, with the goal of better understanding whether family cohesion is protective for youth. The sample consisted of 1,099 students in grades 9–12 from a large urban high school (N = 1,286). Participants ranged from 12 to 18 years old (M = 15.82 ± 2.37). The results demonstrated that family cohesion was negatively associated with alcohol cravings. Anxiety and depression were both negatively associated with alcohol cravings (although both reflect suppression effects, as the bivariate correlations are positive). The interaction between anxiety and family cohesion and the interaction between depression and family cohesion were both negatively correlated with alcohol cravings. Discussion focuses on the important roles of mental health as well as family processes for shaping adolescent alcohol cravings.