Types of male drinkers: a multivariate study

Area of Science:

• Social Sciences
• Psychology
• Sociology

Background:

• Understanding diverse alcohol consumption patterns is crucial for public health initiatives.
• Previous research has often categorized drinkers broadly, lacking nuanced segmentation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize distinct drinker segments within a male population in New Zealand.
• To explore the attitudinal, motivational, situational, and consumption factors differentiating these segments.

Main Methods:

• Factor analysis was employed for data reduction on variables including attitudes, motivations, situations, and consumption.
• Cluster analysis was used to group individuals based on derived factor scores.
• Cross-tabulation with alcohol consumption and demographic data validated the identified segments.

Main Results:

• Six distinct drinker segments were identified, primarily differentiated by common drinking situations.
• The largest segments included Light Drinkers (43%) and Frequent Early Evening Drinkers (28%).
• Other identified segments were Heavy Hotel-Tavern Drinkers (21%), Club Drinkers (4%), Solitary Drinkers (2%), and Party Drinkers (2%).

Conclusions:

• Drinking situations are primary differentiators of male drinker types in New Zealand.
• The identified segments provide a nuanced understanding of alcohol consumption behaviors.
• These findings can inform targeted interventions and public health strategies related to alcohol use.