Work-based critical incidents and problem drinking: Taking intrusive reactions, traumatic distress, and the kindling effect into account

The association between exposure to workplace critical incidents and problem drinking is examined using a sample of males employed in a variety of blue-collar occupations. Incident exposure is found to have a significant association with problem drinking. Consistent with the "kindling " hypothesis, findings indicate a positive association between the number of such exposures reported during the past year and both intrusive reactions and distress, with both intrusive reactions and distress mediating the association between exposure and problem drinking. However, the mediating role of intrusive reactions declines with the number of exposures reported. Implications for labor, management, and policy are discussed.