| The relationship between self-knowledge, ruminative processes, and coping styles is unclear, especially as they relate to alcohol use, motivations, and problems. The present study examined the relationship between self-concept clarity and alcohol-related outcomes, and whether rumination mediated these relationships. As past research showed that rumination correlated with depressive and anxiety symptoms, these symptoms were also assessed and used as moderators in the analyses. Subjects were 261 college students who reported they used alcohol in their lifetime. The Self-Concept Clarity Scale, Ruminative Response Styles, Rutgers Alcohol Problems Index, Drinking Motives Questionnaire (Revised), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Beck Depression Inventory, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item Scalewere administered to participants online. Results yielded a significant relationship between self-concept clarity and drinking to cope, which was mediated by brooding rumination. The relationship between self-concept clarity and alcohol-related problems was not significant, though the indirect effect of brooding rumination was significant. Depressive and anxiety symptoms did not moderate either relationship. No significant relationship was apparent between self-concept clarity and either frequency or quantity of alcohol use, nor was there an indirect effect of brooding rumination. Study limitations, its contribution to the literature and futureresearch directions were discussed.Keywords: Self-Concept Clarity, Rumination, Drinking to Cope, Alcohol Problems, College Students, Identity Development, Coping |