Acceptance versus distraction as coping strategies for acute pain and pain-induced alcohol urge and approach inclinations.

Abstract

Experimental research has identified pain as a determinant of alcohol urge mediated via negative affect. This study aimed to test acceptance coping (vs. distraction) as a moderator of this relationship. Using a randomized 2 × 2 between-subjects repeated-measures experimental design, pain-free hazardous drinkers (N = 135) were randomly assigned to receive acceptance or distraction coping training. They were asked to use the strategy while receiving an acutely painful or nonpainful stimulus. It was hypothesized that the effects of pain on negative affect would be weaker among those who received acceptance training, resulting in lower ratings on alcohol urge and approach inclinations. There were no moderating effects of Pain Condition × Coping Condition on negative affect. Given this, the moderator was removed and a simple mediation model was tested. Results showed significant indirect effects for alcohol urge through negative affect. Results suggested no differences between acceptance and distraction coping in ameliorating acute pain effects on negative affect and alcohol-related outcomes. The mediation model was partially replicated. Findings provide information that may accelerate the design of interventions to curtail drinking for pain coping by better understanding the utility of acceptance training and the pain-alcohol relation. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).