Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of drinking motives on drinking problems in general population. In the first place, the present study tested a four-factor model of drinking motives recently proposed by Cox and Klinger(1988, 1990). Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the correlated four-factor model fit the data significantly better than did any of several plausible alternative models. Through hierarchical multiple regression analyses, the effects of drinking motives on drinking problems were examined. Results showed that drinking motives were found to have significant effects on alcohol use and drinking problems. Coping motives, for example, influenced upon drinking problems directly as well as indirectly through alcohol use, while social motives had only indirect(mediating) influence on drinking problems. It was particularly noted that coping motives were the strongest predictor in explaining the behavioral and interpersonal problems. The present study could work as a stepping stone for guiding the directions of further research.