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Less drinking, yet more problems: understanding African American drinking and related problems.

Tamika C B Zapolski¹, Sarah L Pedersen², Denis M McCarthy³

¹Department of Psychology, University of Kentucky.

Psychological Bulletin

|March 13, 2013

Summary

African Americans initiate drinking later and use less alcohol than European Americans, yet experience more alcohol-related problems. This paradox is explained by cultural norms and societal factors, particularly for low-income African American men.

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Published on: January 7, 2019

Area of Science:

Public Health
Sociology
Psychology

Background:

African Americans (European Americans) report later initiation of drinking, lower rates of use, and lower levels of use across most age groups.
Despite lower consumption, African Americans experience higher rates of alcohol-related problems compared to European Americans.

Purpose of the Study:

To explain the paradox of lower alcohol use but higher alcohol-related problems in African Americans.
To understand risk variability within the African American population regarding alcohol consumption and problems.

Main Methods:

Review of existing data on alcohol use and problems in African Americans and European Americans.
Theoretical analysis to explain observed trends and within-group variations.

Main Results:

Cultural norms against heavy intoxication may protect against heavy use but increase social disapproval when use occurs.
African Americans may face more legal issues from drinking, leading to reduced consumption but more problems.
Low-income African American men face the highest risk due to intersecting factors like discrimination and lack of resources.

Conclusions:

Cultural and societal factors contribute to the complex relationship between alcohol use and problems in African Americans.
Further research is needed to test theories and explore within-group variations in drinking patterns.
Identifying specific risk and protective factors is crucial for targeted interventions.