Latent Profiles of Drinking Motives Among Trauma-Exposed Combat Veterans and Civilians: A Comparative Investigation

Trauma exposure and drinking motives (e.g., social, enhancement, coping) are both associated with increased alcohol use and related problems. Studies have frequently investigated this relationship by examining drinking motives, such as drinking to cope with negative affect, in isolation, yet few studies have examined motives simultaneously in trauma-exposed populations. It is also unclear whether the relationship between drinking motives and alcohol use outcomes differs as a function of population characteristics (e.g., gender, trauma type). Using latent profile analysis, we aimed to (a) identify latent profiles characterized by drinking motives, assessed with the Drinking Motives Questionnaire (DMQ), in two samples: primarily male veterans with combat trauma (N = 174) and civilians with interpersonal trauma (N = 152), and (b) determine whether associations with alcohol use outcomes of consumption and binge drinking (BD) would differ by sample. A three-class solution was replicated across both samples: profiles characterized by moderate Social scores and low Enhancement and Coping scores (low ENH/COP), moderate scores across all domains (medium DMQ), and elevated scores across all domains (high DMQ). In both samples, profile membership was differentially associated with consumption and BD. Findings suggest patterns of drinking motives may be similar across different trauma-exposed populations, but associations with alcohol outcomes likely differ in meaningful ways. Results can help inform targeted interventions at different treatment settings, such as community health centers or VA hospitals.