Attachment and alcohol use amongst athletes: The mediating role of conscientiousness and alexithymia

• Maternal insecure attachment style is associated with athletes' alcohol use.
• There is a multiple pathway between maternal insecure attachment and alcohol use.
• Low conscientiousness and alexithymia appear as two mediators.
• Implication on emotional regulation education for parents and coaches

ObjectiveThe present study aims to explore the mediating effects of conscientiousness and alexithymia in the relationship between parental attachment style and alcohol use in a large sample of athletic young people.MethodParticipants included 434 French sport sciences students. Alcohol use, parental attachment style, conscientiousness and alexithymia were assessed. The hypotheses were tested by using regression and bootstrapping mediation analyses.ResultsMaternal insecure attachment style is positively associated with alcohol use. The current study highlights a multiple pathway in this relationship. The results reveal the mediating effect of low conscientiousness and alexithymia between maternal insecure attachment and alcohol use.ConclusionAthletes' alcohol use seems to be the result of a complex association of underlying psychological factors.