EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

COGNITIVE DISTURBANCES, PESSIMISM, DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MALADJUSTMENT AMONG ALCOHOLICS

Abstract

Objectives: The present study examined the effects of alcohol consumption
on cognitive failures, depressive symptoms, pessimism and psychological maladjustment
among alcoholics. The research further explored predictive relationship between cognitive
disturbances, depressive symptoms, pessimism and psychological maladjustment in
alcoholics. Study Design: Between-groups correlational research design. Settings: Lahore
city. Method: A sample of 33 men and 4 women (age: 20-60 years) who were addicted to
alcohol were recruited. Equal number of comparison group who do not use alcohol, matched
on age, gender and socioeconomic status were recruited. Cognitive Failure Questionnaire1,
Personality Assessment Questionnaire2, Life Orientation Test3 and Centre for Epidemiological
Scale for Depression Scale4 were used as assessment measures. Results: Results of the
study showed that alcoholics had higher scores on cognitive failures, depressive symptoms,
pessimism and psychological maladjustments as compare to the non-alcoholics. There was a
significant predictive relationship between cognitive failures, pessimism, depressive symptoms
and psychological maladjustment. Results of AMOS show model fit with cognitive failure,
depressive symptoms and pessimism as significant predictors of different dimensions of
psychological maladjustment among alcoholics.