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Social status,gender and alcohol-related problems: the black young adult experience |
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| Authors: | Dionne C Godette Erika Edwards Chandra L Ford Lee Strunin Timothy Heeren Ichiro Kawachi |
| Institution: | 1. Department of Health Promotion and Behavior, College of Public Health , University of Georgia , 300 River Road, Athens, GA, 30602, USA;2. NIAAA Youth Alcohol Prevention Center , Boston University School of Public Health , 715 Albany Street #580, Boston, MA, 02118, USA;3. Data Coordinating Center , Boston University School of Public Health , 715 Albany Street #580, Boston, MA, 02118, USA;4. Department of Community Health Sciences , UCLA School of Public Health , 650 Charles E. Young Drive, South, Room 36-078B, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA;5. Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences , Boston University School of Public Health , 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA, 02118, USA;6. Department of Biostatistics , Boston University School of Public Health , 715 Albany Street, Boston, MA, 02118, USA;7. Center for Society and Health , Harvard School of Public Health , 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, 02115, USA |
| Abstract: | Objectives. Using data from the 2001–2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions, this study examined prevalence of drinking and related problems among five racial/ethnic groups aged 18–30. Design. Logistic regression analyses examined influences of gender and social status on alcohol-related problems among blacks, controlling for demographics. Results. Black drinkers were significantly less likely to be high-risk or risky/heavy episodic drinkers than all groups except Asians; and experienced lower prevalence of alcohol-related problems than whites and American Indians. Controlling for drinking, prevalence of alcohol-related problems among blacks was similar to other groups, except native Americans. Analyses of blacks revealed males, unemployed, and heaviest drinkers had highest prevalence of problems. Strong associations between drinking and problems remained consistent across black sub-groups defined by social status and gender. Conclusion. While blacks are not as engaged in risky/heavy drinking, they are not shielded from problems conditional on drinking patterns. Focus on alcohol-related problems among black males and unemployed is indicated. |
| Keywords: | alcohol blacks alcohol-related problems disparities social status gender |