Psychosocial factors associated with alcohol use in lower socioeconomic position populations: a scoping review

Improved understanding of psychosocial factors associated with alcohol use in lower socioeconomic position (SEP) populations could inform theory and practice in the development of interventions aimed at reducing alcohol-related harm in this population. This review aimed to review and synthesise the literature on these associations for lower SEP populations.

We conducted a scoping review of studies examining associations between psychosocial factors and alcohol use in lower SEP populations. Web of Science (Core Collection), Scopus, Embase (Embase and Medline), PubMed, and APAPsycNet (PsycInfo) were searched. Out of 6597 identified articles, 26 articles were included from the databases. Hand searching of references of these studies identified four additional eligible studies. Narrative synthesis was used to synthesise identified factors.

30 studies in total (21 quantitative, nine qualitative) were included. Identified psychosocial factors related to mental health, stress, drinking motives, alcohol availability, adolescence, cognitive factors, and other psychosocial factors.

The array of identified psychosocial factors can inform future directions for tailored alcohol interventions for lower SEP populations. The evidence base is predominantly comprised of quantitative studies investigating factors such as mental health and stress. Future research in the area would benefit from greater use of qualitative studies to complement these insights and generate improved understanding of experiences of alcohol use among lower SEP populations. Individual-level drinking motivations (e.g., coping with stress and mental health) may be amplified by the environmental context of disadvantaged neighbourhoods, which may play a role in disposition to drinking as a coping mechanism. Yet, these communities may have reduced access to alternative coping resources. Policymakers implementing population-level interventions to reduce alcohol availability may also need to consider what and how alternative coping resources and strategies for stress and mental health can be implemented in underserved communities. Targeting specific drinking reasons may increase intervention acceptability among lower SEP populations.