Alcohol consumption, type A behavior, and demographic variables. Results from the Normative Aging Study

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Behavioral Science
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Understanding factors influencing alcohol consumption is crucial for public health, especially in aging populations.
• Previous research suggests psychological traits and social factors may impact drinking behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between Type A behavior, demographic factors, and alcohol consumption patterns in male participants of the Veterans Administration Normative Aging Study.
• To determine if Type A behavior, age, retirement, marital status, or socioeconomic status are associated with various drinking behaviors.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 1,663 men completed the Jenkins Activity Survey (measuring Type A behavior) and 1,556 responded to a survey on drinking behaviors.
• Statistical analyses controlled for age, marital status, socioeconomic status, and retirement status.

Main Results:

• Type A behavior scores showed minimal association with being a nondrinker, heavy drinking, or experiencing drinking problems.
• Moderate alcohol consumption was significantly associated with higher socioeconomic status and being married.
• Other Type A measures like speed/impatience and hard-driving/competitiveness were also weakly linked to drinking behaviors.

Conclusions:

• Socioeconomic status and potentially marital status, rather than Type A behavior or retirement status, may be key factors influencing the relationship between alcohol consumption and coronary heart disease development.
• These findings highlight the importance of social determinants in understanding health behaviors in older men.