Progression of alcohol problems in a Navajo sample

This study tested the cross-cultural applicability of Jellinek's progression in a sample of Navajo men and women. Jellinek (1952) described a predictable progression of alcoholism that continues to be used widely in treatment, but it is unclear whether this pattern is consistent across cultures and genders.

The sample consisted of 99 Navajo (67 men and 32 women) who were undergoing detoxification in a secure facility. Participants were asked about the quantity and frequency of their drinking as well as other drinking experiences. Their level of cultural identification was also assessed.

Of the 46 events established by Jellinek, the order of progression for the Navajo sample was modestly correlated (r(s) = .41, p = .005, 17% shared variance) with that for Jellinek's white men. The correlation of Jellinek's sample with the Navajo men was slightly larger (r(s) = .48, p = .001, 23% shared variance) than that of the whole sample; however, the comparison with Navajo women resulted in a near zero correlation (r(s) = .06, p = .705, 4% shared variance).

In the context of studies from other cultures, these data suggest convergence decreases as the studied sample deviates culturally from Jellinek's sample of U.S. white men. These data question the cross-cultural applicability of this popular model of progression of alcoholism.