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An examination of the extent to which drinking motives and problem alcohol consumption vary as a function of deprivation, gender and age
Author(s) -
Heim Derek,
Monk Rebecca L.,
Qureshi Adam W.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1111/dar.13221
Subject(s) - alcohol consumption , consumption (sociology) , psychology , environmental health , alcohol , function (biology) , medicine , sociology , chemistry , social science , biochemistry , evolutionary biology , biology
Existing research points to a link between socioeconomic factors, alcohol consumption and harms, while another body of work documents the importance of varying motivations to drink in shaping alcohol behaviours. Yet, little is currently known about the extent to which alcohol consumption may be differentially associated with drinking motives as a function of deprivation, gender and age. Methods Cross‐sectional analysis of data from a UK sample aged between 18 and 75 years ( n = 1639; 51% male, M age 47.74, SD 14.66). Structural equation modelling, using clustering to account for the multi‐level nature of the data set, was carried out to assesses the relationships between deprivation (Index of Multiple Deprivation), occupation, age, gender and problem alcohol consumption (Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test) and social, conformity, enhancement and coping drinking motives. Results Coping, enhancement and conformity, but not social, motives were associated with problem alcohol consumption. Drinking motives were stronger predictors of problem consumption than gender and age, with motives tending to be endorsed more strongly by younger and male respondents. Responses from participants with working‐class occupations tended to be characterised by elevated endorsements of coping motives. Discussion and Conclusion Drinking motives are stronger predictors of problem alcohol consumption than socio‐demographic variables although these factors exert influences on people's motives to drink.