Structural models of gender, alcohol consumption, and health

Gender differences exist in patterns of alcohol consumption and in the health and social effects of alcohol use, but little is known about gender differences in how alcohol use is affected by mental and physical health conditions.

We used structural equation modeling techniques to examine gender differences in the relationships among alcohol consumption, physical and mental health, functional status, and social and demographic characteristics. Data were obtained from a random sample of the adult membership of a health maintenance organization in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. Simultaneous models evaluated gender differences in predictors of drinking vs. nondrinking status and, among drinkers, amount of alcohol consumed.

Physical health was twice as strong a predictor of drinker/nondrinker status among women compared with men, but among drinkers, there were no gender differences in predictors of amount of alcohol consumed. Mental health predicted drinking status and alcohol consumption among drinkers, but these relationships did not differ by gender. Overall, sociodemographic characteristics and physical health were stronger predictors of alcohol use among women than among men.

Women may be more amenable than men to alcohol-related preventive messages that target physical health concerns. Treating mental health conditions may be an important method for reducing alcohol consumption.