Interpretations of Survey Questions on One's Partner's Alcohol Consumption

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 701-723 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsimarja Raitasalo

This article analyzes and discusses how survey questions about partners' alcohol use, about attempts to control it, and about its problematic nature, used in the 2000 Finnish Drinking Habits Survey, are understood and interpreted. The majority of the 30 respondents interviewed for this research understood the concepts of alcohol and drinking as intended, but some respondents did not define alcohol use in the way alcohol researchers do. Drinking that was for purposes other than drunkenness was not considered alcohol drinking. This confusion has important implications for alcohol survey research. Also, there was wide variation in the interpretations of attempts to control partners' drinking, and especially in interpretations of drinking-related problems. The different interpretations of drinking and problems related to it indicate the importance of defining the intended meaning of the questions in the interview situation. Identifying possible interpretations is useful in formulating survey questions related to these issues and also in planning research designs in general.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chiara Mazzarella ◽  
Annamaria Spina ◽  
Marcello Dallio ◽  
Antonietta Gerarda Gravina ◽  
Mario Romeo ◽  
...  

BACKGROUND Italy has been one of the first western countries seriously involved in the COVID-19 pandemic in the first months of 2020 and so that the national government was forced to impose a long lockdown period, stopping all the people aggregation outdoor and indoor activities. From a social point of view this period of domestic confinement resulted in deep changes of behaviours and lifestyles, promoting in many people the onset of psychological symptoms and signs (including anxiety, depression, insomnia, and irritability among others) already known as associated with drug and alcohol abuse OBJECTIVE this study aims to assess the variation of alcohol drinking habits in a sample of Italian citizens during the COVID-19 lockdown and to identify the psychosocial factors surrounding it, in order to assess the specific subset of the population that could need psychosocial support during these events METHODS An online anonymous questionnaire was created and submitted from 9th April 2020 to 28th April 2020 using social medias and e-mails. Questions were related to personal details such as age, work, instruction, and, moreover, to alcohol drinking habits during the lockdown, including Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT C) test questions RESULTS A total of 1234 surveys were filled out by subjects with an age range from 18 to 80 years old. An increase in both anxiety and fear has been detected in most of the participants (63% and 61% respectively) with a direct (r=0.652; p<0.001) relationship between them. Participants older than 50 years showed the strongest correlation between alcohol consumption, fear, and anxiety, (r=0.830, P <0.001 and r=0.741, P<0.001, respectively). Subjects living alone experienced a stronger association between anxiety, fear, and higher level of alcohol consumption (r: 0.529; P<0.001; r: 0.628, P<0.001 respectively). Moreover, 18% of participants increased alcohol consumption drinking during the lockdown. These subjects showed a lower frequency of alcohol consumption before the lockdown in comparison to the rest of the study population (2.5±0.96 vs 3±1.03, P<0.0001 respectively). Moreover, comparing the abovementioned groups, the percentage of subjects who experienced higher alcohol assumption before the 11th of March was higher in those that didn't change their drinking behaviour during the lockdown in comparison to that portion of them that experienced a worsening of alcohol abuse (r: 30.422, P<0.0001) CONCLUSIONS according to these data, during the Italian lockdown due to COVID 19 pandemic, different kind of people experienced an increase in alcohol drinking. Several psychosocial factors are involved in determining the increase in harmful alcohol consumption during this extraordinary stressful event and they must be addressed by the healthcare support in order to avoid awful lockdown impact on human life


Drunk Japan ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 142-174
Author(s):  
Mark D. West

This chapter focuses on the role of intoxication in society. After examining the way courts discuss alcohol use as a social problem, it turns to three legal contexts: employment law, family law, and torts. First, it examines cases of disciplinary dismissals, in which civil servants whose employment is terminated after drunk-driving convictions sue their former employers. Second, it explores divorce cases in which alcohol consumption and intoxication are raised as factors that contributed to the demise of the marriage. Third, it turns to cases in which people claim they were defamed by statements related to alcohol consumption. In each case, courts issue opinions that either offer little insight into their thoughts on intoxication (despite a penchant for editorializing in other types of cases) or apply uneven, but individualized, justice.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bezawit Mulat ◽  
Wallelign Alemnew ◽  
Kegnie Shitu

Abstract BackgroundAlcohol drinking during pregnancy is towering in spite of the well-established prove on its unfavorable pregnancy results and destitute child improvement. Despite such enormous consequences, there are limited data that explore about the extent of alcohol drinking and its associated factors among mothers during pregnancy in sub-Saharan Africa. ObjectiveThis study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of alcohol consumption during pregnancy among pregnant mothers in sub-Saharan Africa. MethodA community based crossectional demographic and health survey was conducted from 2013 to 2017 among four Sub-Sahara African countries: Burundi, Ethiopia, Liberia and Zimbabwe. A two-stage stratified sampling technique was employed to select the participants. Multivariable Logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with alcohol consumption during pregnancy. A p-value less than 0.05 and 95% confidence interval were used to declare statistical significance.ResultA total of 3,953 weighed sample of pregnant mothers were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 27.3 (± 6.8) years with an age range of 15-49 years. The overall prevalence of alcohol use during pregnancy was 22.8% with (95% CI (21.5, 24)) and it was significantly associated with increased age (AOR=1.02, 95% CI (1.01, 1.04)), Muslim religion follower ( AOR=0.07, 95% (0.05,0.11), husband/partner’s educational status of primary (AOR=0.7 ,95% CI (0.55,0.84), secondary (AOR=0.53, 95% CI ( 0.41,0.7)) and higher (AOR=0.49 , 95% CI(0.31,0.8), being currently working (AOR=1.5,95% CI ( 1.09,1.55) , having ANC visit ( AOR=0.82, 95% C I(0.68,0.98) and increased gravidity ( AOR=0.93,95% CI( 0.86,0.99).Conclusion Alcohol drinking during pregnancy was high among pregnants in sub-Saharan African countries. Maternal age, religion, husband educational status, current working status of the mother, presence of ANC visit and gravidity of the mother were factors which have significant association with alcohol drinking during pregnancy. This calls a tailored behavior change intervention to reduce alcohol use during pregnancy. More emphasis should also be given for pregnant women with no ANC visit, lower gravidity, and an illiterate husband, currently working and Christianity followers.


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Galya D. Chamova ◽  
Georgi M. Sarov

Summary Parental alcohol drinking is associated with an increased risk of alcohol consumption in adolescents and social drinking is often the first step to regular alcohol consumption. The purpose of the study was to investigate the association between social drinking in adolescence and parental alcohol consumption. We conducted a survey, using a self-completed questionnaire about alcohol drinking habits. Of 903 students (aged 15-19), 279 (30.9%) were found to be abstainers (NDA) and 455 (50.39%) were social drinkers (SDA). These two groups were statistically compared for drinking patterns of their parents. It was found that SDA are fourfold less likely than NDA to have two alcohol abstaining parents (OR=0.26, 95%CI =0.19-0.37) and fourfold more likely to have two alcohol drinking parents (OR=3.89, 95%CI =2.77-5.45). There were no significant differences between SDA and NDA regarding probability to have one abstaining and one socially drinking parent, and SDA were less likely to have one abstaining and one regularly drinking parent (OR=0.54, 0.37-0.8). The social learning theory explains well adolescent drinking patterns when there is no contradiction in parental modeling. It seems, however, that the presence of contradicting patterns of parental alcohol drinking needs another explanation. Since contradicting parental modeling prevents adolescents from social drinking, it could be considered in health prevention intervention.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Andler ◽  
C Cogordan ◽  
A Pasquereau ◽  
J-F Buyck ◽  
V Nguyen-Thanh

Abstract Background Tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking during pregnancy result in serious health hazard for both the baby and the mother. In France, about 17% of pregnant women smoke and 20% consume alcohol. General practitioners (GPs) can have an active role in preventing those behaviors as they often interact with pregnant patients: one quarter of French pregnant women have had at least one antenatal visit with a GP. The aim of our study is to describe French GPs’ practices (screening and counseling) toward pregnant patients regarding tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking. Methods In 2015, a telephone survey was set based on a stratified random sampling of metropolitan France GPs. A representative sample of 1,414 French GPs completed the study. Results Screening for alcohol consumption at least once for every patient was done by 61% of GPs and for smoking by 82% of GPs. Counselling to quit alcohol consumption was done by 77% of GPs while counselling to quit smoking was done by about 90% of them. GPs’ practices were significantly better among those who had more recent ongoing training. Regular drinkers GPs were less likely to systematically screen for alcohol use and GPs’ alcohol use frequency was adversely related to recommending quitting. Current and former smokers GPs were less likely to recommend quitting to pregnant patients smoking over 5 cigarettes per day. Conclusions Screening for alcohol use and smoking during pregnancy is not yet systematic among GPs in France. GPs’ prevention role with pregnant patients could be emphasized, potentially through initial and ongoing trainings adaptation. Besides, as regular alcohol use and smoking are related to unwanted practices, prevention for the benefit of GPs could be even more fruitful. Key messages Screening for alcohol use and smoking during pregnancy is not systematically done by French GPs. GPs’ prevention role with pregnant patients could be emphasized, potentially through initial and ongoing trainings adaptation.


1979 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 271-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Albert Mehrabian

The present study explored effects of emotional states on alcohol use. The three orthogonal dimensions of pleasure-displeasure, level of arousal, and dominance-submissiveness, which are necessary and sufficient to describe and measure any emotional state, were used as independent factors. Reports of amounts of beer, liquor, and wine consumption were the dependent measures. Confirming earlier findings, wine consumption was not a consistent part of the over-all pattern of drinking habits; wine drinking seems to have a distinctive psychological function in contrast to beer and liquor consumption which historically have been a more stable part of alcohol use in the U.S. Almost identical complex patterns of findings were obtained for beer and liquor use. For pleasant emotional states, reported alcohol consumption was greater when subjects felt dominant and aroused (elated, excited) than when they felt dominant and unaroused (relaxed) or submissive and aroused (impressed). For unpleasant emotional states, alcohol consumption was greatest when subjects felt submissive and unaroused (depressed, bored) and dominant and aroused (angry) and least when they felt submissive and aroused (anxious) or dominant and unaroused (unconcerned, detached). In comparisons of the effects of the sets of four pleasant and unpleasant emotional states, only a single significant consistent effect on alcohol use was noted. Subjects feeling displeasure, low arousal, and submissiveness (boredom) reported consuming more beer and liquor than those feeling pleasure, low arousal, and submissiveness (tranquilized, sheltered feeling).


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 876
Author(s):  
Jessica Hoffman ◽  
Jin Yu ◽  
Cheryl Kirstein ◽  
Mark S. Kindy

The relationship between alcohol consumption and traumatic brain injury (TBI) often focuses on alcohol consumption increasing the likelihood of incurring a TBI, rather than alcohol use outcomes after TBI. However, patients without a history of an alcohol use disorder can also show increased problem drinking after single or multiple TBIs. Alcohol and mild TBI share diffuse deleterious neurological impacts and cognitive impairments; therefore, the purpose of these studies was to determine if an interaction on brain and behavior outcomes occurs when alcohol is consumed longitudinally after TBI. To examine the impact of mild repetitive TBI (rmTBI) on voluntary alcohol consumption, mice were subjected to four mild TBI or sham procedures over a 2 week period, then offered alcohol (20% v/v) for 2 weeks using the two-bottle choice, drinking in the dark protocol. Following the drinking period, mice were evaluated for neuroinflammatory cytokine response or tested for cognitive and behavioral deficits. Results indicate no difference in alcohol consumption or preference following rmTBI as compared to sham; however, increases in the neuroinflammatory cytokine response due to alcohol consumption and some mild cognitive behavioral deficits after rmTBI and alcohol consumption were observed. These data suggest that the cytokine response to alcohol drinking and rmTBI + alcohol drinking is not necessarily aggregate, but the combination does result in an exacerbation of cognitive behavioral outcomes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sudkhed Detpitukyon ◽  
Tawatchai Apidechkul ◽  
Rachanee Sunsern ◽  
Amornrat Anuwatnonthakate ◽  
Onnalin Singhhorn ◽  
...  

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to understand the pattern and perception of alcohol drinking among the Lahu people in northern Thailand. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative method was used to elicit information on the patterns and perceptions of alcohol drinking amongst the Lahu tribespeople. Question guidelines had been developed from literature reviews and approved by three experts in the field of public health and alcohol studies. A total of 21 participants of different ages and sexes from 3 separate Lahu villages were invited to provide information. All interviews were taped and transcribed before analysis. A content analysis was used. Findings Lahu people begin alcohol consumption at an average of 12 years, with males usually beginning before females of the same age. Consuming alcohol is perceived to be a sign of adulthood and is also used as a means of gaining social acceptance from others in the community. Alcohol is consumed throughout the year with young and old, male and females, describing varied reasons for drinking. Income, parental behavior, and peer pressure contributes to the onset of alcohol drinking among young Lahu people. Several factors contributed to the use of alcohol among the Lahu people such as sex, age, occupation and income, peer pressure, taste and price as well as cultural adaptations amongst the farming community that play a significant role in the frequency of alcohol consumption amongst the Lahu community. Originality/value The results should support the development of peer education on the negative impact of alcohol use among the young people, and development of a community agreement on reducing excessive alcohol use in the Lahu community should be implemented.


1984 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 425-433 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Kaprio ◽  
M. Koskenvuo ◽  
H. Langinvainio

AbstractData on alcohol use and smoking habits was available from the 1975 questionnaire of the entire cohort. Prior to pairwise analyses, the data of individuals was compared to that of age-sex matched groups of pairs reared together. The early separated twins had a higer alcohol consumption, while for smoking only slight differences were observed compared to twins reared together. Probandwise concordance rates were computed from smoking status (ever smoker/never smoker), alcohol use (user/nonuser) and “heavy” drinking (half-bottle of spirits on one occasion at least once a month). The following results were obtained in those pairs with the environmental dissimilarity score > 15:


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan-Shen Shan ◽  
Li-Tzong Chen ◽  
Chih-Hsing Wu ◽  
Yin-Fan Chang ◽  
Chih-Ting Lee ◽  
...  

AbstractInconsistent results have been reported for the association between alcohol use and pancreatic cancer, particularly at low levels of alcohol consumption. Individuals genetically susceptible to the carcinogenic effect of alcohol might have higher pancreatic cancer risk after drinking alcohol. The current study investigated the association between alcohol use and pancreatic cancer with 419 pancreatic cancer cases and 963 controls recruited by a hospital-based case–control study in Taiwan. Gene-environment interaction between alcohol use and polymorphisms of two ethanol-metabolizing genes, ADH1B and ALDH2, on pancreatic risk was evaluated. Our results showed no significant association between alcohol drinking and an increased pancreatic cancer risk, even at high levels of alcohol consumption. Even among those genetically susceptible to the carcinogenic effect of alcohol (carriers of ADH1B*2/*2(fast activity) combined with ALDH2*1/*2(slow activity) or ALDH2*2/*2(almost non-functional)), no significant association between alcohol use and pancreatic cancer was observed. Overall, our results suggested that alcohol drinking is not a significant contributor to the occurrence of pancreatic cancer in Taiwan.


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