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Predicting onset and chronicity of women's problem drinking: a five-year longitudinal analysis
S C Wilsnack1, A D Klassen, B E Schur
1Department of Neuroscience, University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Grand Forks 58203.
American Journal of Public Health
|March 1, 1991
Summary
Different factors predict the start versus continuation of problem drinking in women. Sexual dysfunction and lifestyle predict ongoing issues, while younger age and drug use predict new problems.
Area of Science:
- Addiction research
- Women's health
- Longitudinal studies
Background:
- Limited research on women's problem drinking over time.
- Previous studies excluded or undersampled women with drinking problems.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate predictors for the onset and continuation of problem drinking in women.
- Examine longitudinal influences on women's alcohol consumption patterns.
Main Methods:
- Five-year follow-up interviews with 143 problem drinkers and 157 nonproblem drinkers.
- Regression analyses to identify predictors of problem drinking in 1986 based on 1981 data.
- Separate analyses for initial problem drinkers and persistent problem drinkers.
Main Results:
- Younger age, cohabitation, and drug use predicted new problem drinking indicators.
- Sexual dysfunction was the strongest predictor of persistent problem drinking.
- Employment status, marital status, and depression also influenced problem drinking trajectories.
Conclusions:
- Distinct factors influence the onset versus continuation of problem drinking in women.
- Sexual dysfunction, lifestyle, and role deprivation are key variables in women's problem drinking.
- Understanding these predictors can inform targeted interventions.