Alcohol-related problems in New Zealand women

As total alcohol consumption has increased this half century in most developed countries, alcohol-related problems have become more frequent. Most research has either studied only men or failed to mention gender. This study examined the prevalence of alcohol problems and their socio-demographic associations in a random sample of New Zealand women. Women of younger age, who were unmarried, well educated, in employment, with child care support and who lived in rural communities saw themselves as having more problems with alcohol. Women who had experienced physical or sexual abuse as adults had increased rates of alcohol problems as did those with more psychiatric morbidity as assessed by the General Health Questionnaire and the short Present State Examination. However, women with multiple social roles, particularly caring responsibilities, were less likely than women with one or two social roles to view themselves as having alcohol problems. The data provided no support for the role strain hypothesis of alcohol abuse. It is argued that the findings support a social explanation for alcohol problems based on varying social sanctions on drinking and alcohol availability rather than a psychoanalytic one of unconscious conflicts over femininity, sexuality or female social roles.