9

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS
International Journal of Psychology:  
Biopsychosocial Approach 2017 / 20 
ISSN 1941-7233 (Print), ISSN 2345-024X (Online) 
https://dx.doi.org/10.7220/2345-024X.20.1    

EMOTIONAL EXPRESSIVIT Y OF ALCOHOL 
DEPENDENT PATIENTS IN DIFFERENT 
STAGES OF MOTIVATION TO REFUSE 
ALCOHOL

Justina Slavinskienė1, 
1Department of Psychology, Vytautas Magnus University, justina.slavinskiene@vdu.lt

Kristina Žardeckaitė-Matulaitienė

Department of Psychology, Vytautas Magnus University, kristina.zardeckaite-matulaitiene@vdu.lt

Abstract. Objective. The aim of this study is to evaluate differences in emotional expressi-
vity according to the motivation to refuse alcohol in a sample of alcohol dependent 
patients. Methods. The study sample consists of 142 alcohol-dependent patients (96 
males and 46 females) undergoing treatment in Lithuania, Kaunas centre for addictive 
disorders. Emotional expressivity, motivation to refuse alcohol and alcohol depen-
dency are measured by Lithuanian versions of The Stages of Change Readiness and 
Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES), Five Expressivity Facet Scale and AUDIT test. 
Results. Highly motivated alcohol-dependent males express more positive and nega-
tive emotions; also, they have significantly higher expressive confidence and higher 
emotional impulse intensity than those alcohol-dependent males with low moti-
vation to refuse alcohol. Highly motivated alcohol-dependent females have higher 
emotional impulse intensity and they express more positive emotions comparing to 
low motivated females. Conclusions. Increased motivation to refuse alcohol is signi-
ficantly related to some positive aspects of emotional expressivity. Highly motivated 
alcohol-dependent patients (both males and females) show higher emotional im-
pulse intensity and higher expression of positive emotions. So, applied psychosocial 
interventions make significant changes in emotional expressivity and this perhaps is 
significant for the development of new perception of alcohol dependency and for 
making behavioural changes.

Keywords: emotional expressivity, motivation to refuse alcohol, alcohol dependency.

1  Address for correspondence: Justina Slavinskienė, Vytautas Magnus University, Depart-
ment of Psychology, Jonava str. 66, Kaunas, Lithuania. E-mail: justina.slavinskiene@vdu.lt.

mailto:justina.slavinskiene%40vdu.lt?subject=
mailto:kristina.zardeckaite-matulaitiene@vdu.lt
mailto:justina.slavinskiene@vdu.lt


Justina Slavinskienė, Kristina Žardeckaitė-Matulaitienė

10

INTRODUC TION

The European Union (EU) is the region with the highest alcohol con-
sumption in the world. Alcohol consumption is the third leading risk 
factor for disease and mortality in Lithuania like in many European coun-
tries (e. g. Poland, Luxembourg, Spain, Estonia and Germany) (Anderson, 
Møller, Galea, 2012). The similar situation is noted in the United States of 
America, where excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause 
of death, accounting for 80,000 deaths per year (OECD, 2013). However, 
Lithuania is one of the leading European countries in terms of consumed 
alcohol quantities (Štelemėkas, 2014). Even though there is a global 
strategy how to deal with the harmful use of alcohol, through direct (e.g. 
medical services for alcohol related health problems) and indirect (e.g. 
the dissemination of information on alcohol-related harm) measures 
(Anderson, Møller, Galea, 2012). Nevertheless, alcohol consumption still 
remains one of the most relevant worldwide health problems. 

A conscious decision to use or not to use alcohol is based on alcohol-
related expectations (Dai, Sternberg, 2004; Németh et. al., 2011). These 
alcohol-related expectations are related to expected positive changes in 
emotional state and behaviour while consuming alcohol (Dai, Sternberg, 
2004; Philippot, Kornreich, Blairy, 2011). It is found that alcohol-depend-
ent people usually consume alcohol because of present expectations 
to suppress the negative emotions and to enhance the positive ones 
(Lyvers et. al., 2010). However, it is stated that an ability to perceive, in-
terpret, regulate or express emotions adequately and an ability to iden-
tify others emotions degenerate by the increase usage and longevity 
of alcohol consumption (Cordovil de Sousa Uva et. al., 2009). Despite of 
alcohol-related expectations, alcohol-dependent patients are incapable 
of identifying and differentiating their emotions as well as controlling 
them without alcohol intake (Kun, Demetrovics, 2010). 

However, long-lasting decrease in physical health, psychological 
and social well-being due to alcohol consumption, is usually the main 
reason for seeking professional help and motivation to refuse alcohol. 
According to Tran-theoretical Model (Prochaska, DiClemente, 1982), 
Miller & Tonigan (1996) proposed that there are three stages (ambiva-
lence, problem identification and action-taking stage), that should be 
passed through in order to refuse alcohol and to change alcohol-related 



2017, 20, 9–22  p.International Journal of Psychology: 
A Biopsychosocial Approach

11

behaviour. This is an ongoing process from stage to stage until the be-
haviour is no longer alcohol-related (Heather, Smailes, Cassidy, 2008). 
Also, there is an assumption that decision to refuse alcohol and change 
alcohol-related behaviour has a significant emotional aspect. By inte-
grating Appraisal Theory (Bippus, Young, 2012), Two-factor Theory of 
Emotions (Reisenzein, 1983), Gross & John (1997) proposed that emo-
tional expressivity is a natural behavioural reaction (behavioural strate-
gies) that is used in response to emerging emotions. Therefore, moti-
vation to refuse alcohol and changes in alcohol-related behaviour are 
significantly related to changes in emotional expressivity.

While considering the pros and cons of frequent harmful alcohol 
consumption, at the ambivalence stage the alcohol-dependent patients 
are not motivated and not ready to change alcohol-related behaviour 
(Vilela et. al., 2008). It could be assumed that at the ambivalence stage, 
higher expression of negative emotions and higher emotional impulse 
intensity are related to more positive alcohol-related expectations. At 
the next, problem identification stage, alcohol-dependent patients ex-
perience more and more negative outcomes of problematic alcohol 
consumption. Therefore, positive alcohol-related expectations change 
into negative ones (Hallgren, Moyers, 2011). Perhaps, at the problem 
identification stage, alcohol-dependent patients perceive the emotional 
expression inadequacy. As the result, the masking of emotions increases 
and emotional impulse intensity still remains high. At the third, action-
taking stage, alcohol-dependent patients are sober for a certain period 
of time and have high motivation to refuse alcohol. The third stage is 
related to development of new behavioural strategies how to recognize 
and identify emotions, and how to express them adequately. There is an 
assumption that when alcohol-dependent patients have high motiva-
tion to refuse alcohol, they take active actions not to consume alcohol. 
As a result, positive changes appear in emotional expressivity: a de-
crease of emotional impulse intensity, an increase of positive emotional 
expressivity and expressive confidence (Kashubeck, Christensen, 1992).

So, the mechanism of alcohol dependency and motivation to refuse 
alcohol are theoretically based and broadly analysed. However, so far, no 
studies are found defining the differences in emotional expressivity of 
alcohol-dependent patients. Also, it still remains unclear if differences in 
emotional expressivity depend on different motivation to refuse alcohol 



Justina Slavinskienė, Kristina Žardeckaitė-Matulaitienė

12

and change alcohol-related behaviour. There is a lack of empirical-based 
information in this particular field. Therefore, the comprehensive analy-
sis of differences in emotional expressivity and its relation to motivation 
in alcohol consumption refusal, in a sample of Lithuanian alcohol-de-
pendent patients, could broaden psychological understanding of alco-
hol dependency in general and particularly in Lithuania. The results may 
imply some ideas of how to work more effectively with alcohol-depend-
ent patients in order to achieve long-lasting changes in their alcohol-
related behaviour and emotional functioning. Also, this analysis could 
encourage some ideas on how to implement interventions for alcohol-
dependent patients. Thus, the aim of this study is to evaluate the differ-
ences in emotional expressivity according to motivation to refuse alco-
hol in a sample of alcohol dependent patients.

MATERIALS AND ME THODS

Study Design and Subjects

A cross-sectional study is conducted in Lithuania, Kaunas centre for 
addictive disorders in 2013, from February to April. Kaunas centre for ad-
dictive disorders is one of five this type of centres, where all addictions 
are treated in two ways: either using medications in detoxification sector 
or applying psychosocial interventions (individual and groups meetings, 
twelve-step program, AA meeting) in the rehabilitation program. The 
aim of applied psychosocial interventions is to enhance motivation to 
refuse alcohol consumption or drugs by changing the way of thinking, 
emotional expression and behaviour strategies. The sample of this study 
is mostly represented by Kaunas centre for addictive disorders patient 
cohort. Also, it may be represented by one fifth of Lithuanian population 
with alcohol dependency problems.

A self-administered questionnaire is used in a sample of 142 alco-
hol dependent patients (detailed information is presented in Table 1). 
All patients have been invited to participate in this study if they have 
not consumed alcohol for at least 5 days. A detailed explanation of the 
study aims and ethical aspects of the study have been provided for par-
ticipants before filling the questionnaire.



2017, 20, 9–22  p.International Journal of Psychology: 
A Biopsychosocial Approach

13

Measurements

Emotional expressivity is assessed by Five Expressivity Facet Scale 
(Gross, John, 1998). 62-item inventory evaluates the five different aspects 
of emotional expressivity: expressive confidence, positive expressivity, 
negative expressivity, masking of emotions and emotional impulse inten-
sity. On the Likert’s scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree) 
respondents are asked to choose one of the score. Higher scale scores 
indicate higher level of different emotional expressivity aspects. The in-
ternal validity of 5 scales is sufficient (Cronbach α ranged from .61 to .85).

Motivation to refuse alcohol consumption is evaluated using The 
Stages of Change Readiness and Treatment Eagerness Scale (SOCRATES) 
(Miller, Tonigan, 1996). 19-item inventory measures three levels of readi-
ness to change addictive behaviour: the ambivalence, the recognition 
and taking steps. Respondents are asked to choose the most acceptable 
score using Likert’s scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). 
Higher scores indicate higher readiness to refuse alcohol consumption. 
The internal validity of 3 scales is sufficient (Cronbach α ranged from .51 
to .91). However, one question in the ambivalence scale has been elimi-
nated in order to heighten scale reliability. 

Alcohol dependence is measured by AUDIT test (The alcohol use dis-
orders identification test) (Saunders et. al., 1993). 10-item test evaluates 
hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption, as well as alcohol depend-
ence. Respondents who score 8 points or less are considered as having 
no problems with alcohol consumption. However, those respondents, 
who score 13–15 points and more, are considered as alcohol-dependent 
patients. The internal validity of this scale is sufficient (Cronbach α – .65). 

Additionally, demographic data is obtained and includes subject’s 
gender, age, level of education, duration of alcohol consumption and 
treatment conditions (medical detoxification or the twelve-step rehabili-
tation program). 

All versions of Lithuanian questionnaires were adapted following 
the standard translation and back translation procedures. 

Statistical methods

Statistical analysis has been executed using the statistical pack-
age SPSS for Windows, version 17.0. Descriptive statistics is applied for 



Justina Slavinskienė, Kristina Žardeckaitė-Matulaitienė

14

the presentation of study population characteristics. The Kolmogorov- 
Smirnov test is used for the assessment of the normality distribution 
of the quantitative data. Cluster analysis is used in order to group alco-
hol-dependent patients by stages of motivation to refuse alcohol. The 
paired sample Student’s t test is used in order to establish differences of 
psychological characteristics in alcohol-dependent patients. An analysis 
of the differences is executed in alcohol-dependent men and alcohol-
dependent women group separately. The data are presented as N, mean 
± std. deviation, or percentage (%) as respectively indicated. The differ-
ences are considered statistically significant at the level p<.05.

RESULTS

Demographic characteristics of alcohol-dependent patients, par-
ticipated in this survey, are presented in Table 1. The majority of the par-
ticipants is alcohol-dependent males, averagely 42 years old, who have 
secondary or higher education and about 14 years of alcohol consump-
tion experience. Most of them have detoxification treatment. No sig-
nificant differences are observed in comparison of alcohol-dependent 
males and alcohol-dependent females age, education and duration of 

Table 1. Characteristics of the study population.

Characteristic Value P

Gender Males
96 (67.6%)

Females
46 (32.45%)

–

Age, mean, years, (min-max) 42.6, (22–70) 44.6, (27–63) .338

Education (N, %)
Not finished secondary
Secondary
Specialized secondary
Higher education

10 (10.4%)
32 (33.9%)
31 (32.3%)
23 (24%)

3 (6.5%)
13 (28.3%)
21 (45.7%)
9 (19.6%)

.466

Treatment condition (N, %)
Detoxification
Rehabilitation program (12-steps)

54 (56.3%)
42 (43.8%)

18 (39.1%)
28 (60.9%)

–

The average of alcohol consumption 
(years)

14.2 13.3 .558

Audit test (mean of scores± std. deviation) 26.16±4.5 23.54±5.9 .011*

* Significance level α=.05 



2017, 20, 9–22  p.International Journal of Psychology: 
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15

average alcohol consumption (p>α). However, according to the score of 
AUDIT test, both, alcohol-dependent males and females have an alcohol 
dependency. Alcohol-dependent males have more pronounced alcohol 
dependency that alcohol-dependent females (p<.05).

According to the previous research (Haley, 2009; Lü, Wang, 2012; 
Miller, Tonigan, 1996) it is important to analyse if motivation to refuse 
alcohol and emotional expressivity aspects differ in alcohol-dependent 
males and females. Therefore, the results of inter-comparison analysis 
(Student’s t test) are presented in Table 2. 

Table 2. Comparison of psychological variables in a sample of alcohol-
dependent male and alcohol- dependent female.

Motivation to 
refuse alcohol

 Gender N
Mean ± std. 
deviation)

P

Recognition Alcohol-dependent males 96 29.45±3.7
.317

Alcohol-dependent females 46 30.15±4.2

Ambivalence Alcohol-dependent males 96 16.47±2.2
.085

Alcohol-dependent females 46 17.17±2.2

Taking steps Alcohol-dependent males 96 29.19±7.0
.102

Alcohol-dependent females 46 31.30±7.47 

Emotional expressivity

Expressive 
confidence 

Alcohol-dependent males 96 44.77±15.9
.330

Alcohol-dependent females 46 47.54±15.6

Positive 
expressivity

Alcohol-dependent males 96 58.08±13.7
.024*

Alcohol-dependent females 46 63.78±14.3

Negative 
expressivity 

Alcohol-dependent males 96 41.25±12.0
.188

Alcohol-dependent females 46 44.07±11.47

Emotional im-
pulse intensity

Alcohol-dependent males 96 42.28±9.8
.001*

Alcohol-dependent females 46 48.78±9.1

Masking Alcohol-dependent males 96 51.39±11.3
.914

Alcohol-dependent females 46 51.17±10.0
* Significance level α=.05

 There are no significant differences in motivation to refuse alco-
hol consumption between two alcohol-dependent patients groups. 



Justina Slavinskienė, Kristina Žardeckaitė-Matulaitienė

16

The results of differences in emotional expressivity imply that alcohol 
dependent males and females have the same expressive confidence 
(p>.05), negative expressivity (p>.05) and masking of emotions (p>.05). 
However, alcohol-dependent females have significantly higher posi-
tive expressivity (p<.05) as well as higher emotional impulse intensity 
(p<.05) than alcohol-dependent males. Therefore, the main analysis 
of differences will be made in alcohol-dependent males and females 
separately. 

Motivation to refuse alcohol is a dynamic process (Korcha et. al., 
2011; Miller, Tonigan, 1996). Therefore, the same person can not be as-
signed to one particular stage (Miller, Tonigan, 1996). In order to evalu-
ate the relationship between emotional expressivity and motivation to 
refuse alcohol in a sample of alcohol dependent patients, firstly the clus-
ter analysis is conducted (Table 3). The aim of cluster analysis is to divide 
alcohol-dependent patients, according to stages of motivation to refuse 
alcohol. 

Table 3. Cluster analysis of motivation to refuse alcohol.

N (%) Ambivalence Recognition Taking steps

Cluster
1 87 (61.3%) 15.51±1.89 27.28±2.79 25.20±4.85

2 55 (38.7%) 18.58±1.41 33.47±1.91 37.27±2.63

Cluster analysis shows that according to stages of motivation to re-
fuse alcohol there are two main groups: low motivation to refuse alcohol 
(Cluster 1) and high motivation to refuse alcohol (Cluster 2). More than 
a half (61.3%) of alcohol-dependent patients belong to the group of low 
motivation to refuse alcohol. 38.7% alcohol-dependent patients belong 
to the group of high motivation to refuse alcohol. Detailed distribution 
according to gender is presented in Table 4.

Finally, in order to evaluate emotional expressivity differences be-
tween two groups of alcohol-dependent patients, inter-comparison 
analysis (Student’s t test) is made. The analysis is conducted in alcohol-
dependent male and female groups separately, according to group of 
motivation to refuse alcohol. The results are presented in Table 4.



2017, 20, 9–22  p.International Journal of Psychology: 
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17

Table 4. Differences in emotional expressivity in 2 groups of motivation to 
refuse alcohol.

Alcohol-dependent males Alcohol-dependent females
Low 

motivation
High 

motivation
P

Low 
motivation

High  
motivation

P 

N (%) 63 (65.6%) 33 (34.4%) 24 (52.2%) 22 (47.8%)   

Expressive 
confidence 

41.59 50.85 .006 43.79 51.64 .089

Positive 
expressivity

55.33 63.33 .006 57.54 70.59 .001

Negative 
expressivity 

38.29 46.91 .001 43.33 44.86 .657

Emotional impulse 
intensity

40.5 45.97 .007 46.25 51.55 .049

Masking 51.30 51.55 .921 52.88 49.32 .235
* Difference is significant at the level α=.05;

 
The results of our study (Table 4) reveal that highly motivated alco-

hol-dependent males have significantly higher expressive confidence 
(p=.006) as well as higher emotional impulse intensity (p=.007) than 
alcohol-dependent males with low motivation to refuse alcohol. Highly 
motivated males express more positive (p=.006) and negative (p=.001) 
emotions, too. Also, the results show that highly motivated alcohol-de-
pendent females have higher emotional impulse intensity (p=.001), and 
they express more positive emotions (p=.049). There are no significant 
differences between low and highly motivated alcohol-dependent fe-
males’ expressive confidence (p>α) and negative expressivity (p>α). Ad-
ditionally, there are no differences in low and highly motivated alcohol-
dependent males and females masking of emotions (p>α).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION 

The main findings of this study show that highly motivated alcohol-
dependent patients have higher emotional impulse intensity and they 
express more positive emotions than alcohol-dependent patients with 
low motivation to refuse alcohol. Higher emotional impulse intensity 
of alcohol dependent patients may show one aspect of changing pro-
cess that is caused by applied interventions at the centre of addictive 



Justina Slavinskienė, Kristina Žardeckaitė-Matulaitienė

18

disorders. Although, there is an indirect causal relation: still we can as-
sume that psychosocial treatment of alcohol dependency possibly is 
significant for learning to recognize as well as to find new ways of emo-
tions expression (Atwell, Abraham, Duka, 2011). Changes in alcohol con-
sumption motivation appear because of changes in behaviour, which 
is caused by improved cognitive assessment of emotion (Gross et. al., 
1997). The previous studies showed that those alcohol-dependent pa-
tients who get complex treatment may easily express emotions, espe-
cially positive ones’ (Raistrick, Heather, Godfrey, 2006).

However, the results of current study show that only alcohol-depend-
ent and highly motivated males express more negative emotions, and 
they express more confidence in the context of emotional functioning. 
These findings confirm the assumptions of earlier studies that alcohol-
dependent patients tend to express more negative but not positive emo-
tions (Philippot, Kornreich, Blairy, 2011). Even more, we could assume 
that highly motivated alcohol-dependent patients are enhanced to ex-
perience and release all negative emotions they have been suppressing 
by drinking for many years. Uncontrolled and more frequent alcohol con-
sumption is one of maladaptive ways to suppress negative emotions and 
to reduce the intensity of them (Verning, Orsillo, 2009). An unexpected 
result that alcohol-dependent and highly motivated males have more 
expressive confidences, further extend the understanding of gender dif-
ferences in emotional expressivity. Stereotypically it is claimed that males 
are strong and silent, strictly controlling the emotional expressivity (Lü, 
Wang, 2012). However, it could be stated that males, even alcohol-de-
pendent ones’, tend to express emotions in a rational, adequate for a situ-
ation, flexible way (Gross, John, 1998). Those alcohol-dependent males, 
who have a chance to speak about experienced emotions may express 
them more freely with lower possibility to suppress them by risky behav-
iour (Haley, 2009).  Therefore, empathy and social support from specialists 
and more importantly from family are the main key of expressive confi-
dence as well as higher motivation to refuse alcohol.

Finally, the results of this study do not confirm an assumption that 
there are differences in low and highly motivated alcohol-dependent 
males and females masking of emotions. These results may appear be-
cause half of alcohol-dependent patients, participated in this study, 
got detoxification (medical) treatment and no psychological support 



2017, 20, 9–22  p.International Journal of Psychology: 
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19

or a chance to analyse reasons of alcohol consumption. As a result, it 
could be assumed that alcohol-dependent patients, especially at the 
beginning of treatment, tend to mask their emotions because they do 
not know how to express them adequately (Philippot, Kornreich, Blairy, 
2011). However, the current results allow to state that masking of emo-
tions is significantly related to one kind of risky behaviour – alcohol de-
pendency, frequent alcohol consumption in a large quantity (Naghavi, 
Redzuan, 2011). Even more, it could be hypothesis that masking of emo-
tions is related to lower self-confidence and higher negative attitude to-
wards oneself and others (Gross, John, 1998).

This study has certain strengths as well as some limitations and fu-
ture suggestions. Firstly, the study design does not allow to make causal-
ity statements about motivation to refuse alcohol and emotional expres-
sivity. Therefore, longitudinal study in a sample of alcohol-dependent 
patients would allow to evaluate causality relation and stability of psy-
chological changes. Secondly, it would be useful to replicate this study 
by including more psychological (e.g. personal traits) and social (e.g. so-
cial support from family) variables that are important for understanding 
changes in emotional expressivity as well as motivation to refuse alco-
hol. Also, it would be valuable to replicate this study in other four centres 
for addiction disorders. It would be useful in order to apply obtained 
tendencies to entire alcohol-dependent population in Lithuania as well 
to compare these tendencies against other countries. These future sug-
gestions are significant for improvement of psychosocial interventions 
for alcohol-dependent patients.

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the Kaunas centre for addictive disorders 
staff and patients involved in the study for their support.

Conflict of Interest

This study is supported by the project “Promotion of Student Scien-
tific Activities” (VP1-3.1-ŠMM-01-V-02-003) from the Research Council of 
Lithuania. This project is funded by the Republic of Lithuania and Euro-
pean Social Fund under the 2007-2013 Human Resources Development 
Operational Programmers’ priority 3.



Justina Slavinskienė, Kristina Žardeckaitė-Matulaitienė

20

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Justina Slavinskienė, Kristina Žardeckaitė-Matulaitienė

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NUO ALKOHOLIO PRIKL AUSOMŲ ŽMONIŲ EMOCIJŲ 
R AIŠKOS SKIRTUMAI, ESANT SKIRTINGOMS MOT Y VACIJŲ 
STADIJOMS ATSISAKYTI VARTOTI ALKOHOLĮ 

Justina Slavinskienė,  Kristina Žardeckaitė -Matulaitienė
Vytauto Didžiojo universitetas

Santrauka. Tyrimo tikslas. Tyrimo tikslas – įvertinti nuo alkoholio priklausomų žmonių, esan-
čių skirtingose motyvacijos stadijose atsisakyti vartoti alkoholį, emocijų raiškos skirtu-
mus. Tyrimo metodai. Tyrime dalyvavo 142 nuo alkoholio priklausomi žmonės (96 vyrai 
ir 46 moterys), kurie tyrimo metu gydyti Kauno apskrities priklausomybės ligų centre. 
Tyrimo metu buvo naudotas anoniminis savižina paremtas klausimynas, kurį sudarė lie-
tuviška Penkių emocijų raiškos aspektų skalė (Gross, John, 1998), Pasirengimo keistis ir noro 
gydytis skalė (Miller, Tonigan, 1996) bei AUDIT testas (Sounders ir kt., 1993), įvertinantis 
priklausomybę nuo alkoholio. Rezultatai. Nuo alkoholio priklausomi vyrai, pasižymin-
tys aukšta motyvacija atsisakyti vartoti alkoholį, pasižymėjo ne tik reikšmingai didesne 
teigiamų ir neigiamų emocijų raiška, reikšmingai didesniu pasitikėjimu savo emocijų 
raiška, bet ir stipresniu emocinių impulsų intensyvumu nei žema motyvacija atsisakyti 
vartoti alkoholį pasižymintys nuo alkoholio priklausomi vyrai. Nuo alkoholio priklauso-
mos moterys, pasižyminčios aukšta motyvacija atsisakyti vartoti alkoholį, pasižymėjo ne 
tik stipresniu emocinių impulsų intensyvumu, bet ir didesne teigiamų emocijų raiška nei 
nuo alkoholio priklausomos moterys, pasižyminčios žema motyvacija atsisakyti vartoti 
alkoholį. Išvados. Didesnė motyvacija atsisakyti vartoti alkoholį yra reikšmingai susijusi 
su teigiamais emocijų raiškos aspektais. Motyvuoti atsisakyti alkoholio priklausomi nuo 
jo vyrai ir moterys pasižymi stipresniais emociniais impulsais, jie išreiškia daugiau teigia-
mų emocijų. Todėl galima daryti prielaidą, jog gydymo metu taikomos psichosocialinės 
intervencijos, orientuotos į motyvacijos atsisakyti vartoti alkoholį didinimą, yra reikš-
mingos emocijų raiškos pokyčiams. Tai itin svarbu siekiant priklausomų nuo alkoholio 
asmenų elgesio bei suvokimo apie priklausomybę alkoholiui pokyčio.

Reikšminiai žodžiai: emocijų raiška, motyvacija atsisakyti vartoti alkoholį, priklausomybė 
nuo alkoholio.

Received: 24 10 2017
Accepted: 26 10 2017