Drinking, problem drinking and life stressors in the elderly general population

Research shows that although heavy drinking in the United States is less prevalent among older persons, some maintain or increase heavy drinking. Late-onset heavy drinking is believed to be related to stressors of aging such as retirement or bereavement, particularly when coping resources or social supports are inadequate. This study investigated that relationship.

In 1990-91, a random-digit-dial telephone survey was conducted with 2,325 Erie County, New York, residents aged 60 or older. Heavy drinkers were oversampled. Questions included demographics, drinking quantity-frequency, alcohol dependence/problems, stressful life events, chronic stresses, coping resources and social supports. Analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between drinking and stress.

There was no bivariate correlation between average alcohol consumption and acute or chronic stress. Logistic regressions with interaction terms show that stress has no relationship to heavy drinking (average alcohol consumption of 2+ drinks/day) regardless of coping style or social supports. Logistic regressions predicting late-onset heavy drinking also produced negative results. Chronic stress was, however, positively related to alcohol dependence and problems.

Treatment and prevention programs for the elderly should not be based on the assumption that life stresses are a direct cause of drinking, although they may exacerbate consequences of drinking.