Faculty members Nicole Short and Kara Christensen Pacella (Psychology) have published a new study in suggesting that certain aspects of poor sleep quality (taking longer to fall asleep and having more sleep-related problems during the day) are associated with increased drinking to cope with distress, and, in turn, elevated hazardous alcohol use. This study was conducted among those with both posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and problematic alcohol use, a group who is at high risk for alcohol-related problems.
Short, N. A., Christensen Pacella, K. A., Smit, T., Vujanovic, A. A., & Zvolensky, M. J. (in press). Sleep Quality, Coping-Oriented and Problematic Alcohol Use: Path Analysis among Individuals with Comorbid Posttraumatic Stress and Problematic Alcohol Use. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment.
