Relationship between Alcohol Use Disorder and Cognitive Reappraisal Among Youth Seeking Help in Rehabilitation Centers in Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

Alcohol is a widely used and abused substance globally. Deficits in cognitive reappraisal ability are assumed to mark the onset, maintenance, and relapse to alcohol use disorder. Alcohol may therefore be a means to escape from and self-medicate painful inner emotional states. The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between and alcohol use disorder and cognitive reappraisal among youth seeking help in rehabilitation centers in Kiambu county. To establish any such relationships, this study utilised the Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ), and the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT). Data was collected from 33 (23Males/10Females) youths between 15-35 years seeking help in three rehabilitation centers for alcohol abuse. These youths were compared to a similar group of 33 (20 Females/13Males) youths who had never used alcohol, or any other substance of abuse, and 12 (8 Females/4 Males) others who had stayed alcohol free for at least three years after rehabilitation or quitting alcohol. Correlation research design was found appropriate for this study. A Pearson’s correlation coefficient indicated a negative and significant correlation between AUD and reappraisal, showing that inability to utilise reappraisal is related to AUD. Integrating adaptive emotion regulation skills training, and especially the use of cognitive reappraisal in healthcare and rehabilitation settings, it seems, may lead to higher success rates in rehabilitation.