Date of Award

Spring 4-7-2026

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

First Advisor

Christopher Cale

Second Advisor

Richard Penny

Third Advisor

Kathy Wood

Abstract

Maternal alcohol use as a coping response to parenting-related stress has received growing attention in public health and psychology but remains underexplored within occupational therapy. This gap limits understanding of how daily role demands, environmental pressures, and individual vulnerabilities combine to shape drinking as a functional coping behavior. This dissertation aimed to identify and synthesize factors associated with maternal alcohol use in the context of parenting stress and interpret these determinants using the person–environment–occupation model. A scoping review was conducted following the Arksey and O’Malley framework and reported according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Five databases were systematically searched without date or language limits. Peer-reviewed empirical studies examining maternal alcohol use in relation to parenting stress were included. Analysis combined deductive coding guided by the person–environment–occupation framework with inductive thematic analysis within each domain. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Person-level determinants included demographic characteristics, behavioral factors such as pre-pregnancy drinking and cigarette use, and psychological factors including anxiety, depression, negative affect and lower parenting competence. Environmental determinants included sociocultural normalization of maternal drinking, child-related stressors, economic conditions, and social support. Occupational determinants included caregiving overload, work–family conflict, identity negotiation, and protective role commitments. Implications include occupational therapy assessment that considers alcohol’s function within routines and role transitions, and interventions that strengthen adaptive coping, occupational balance, and social buffering. Future research should prioritize longitudinal designs, and broader cultural representation.

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