Alcoholism; Research on alcoholism detailed by R.H. Moos and co-authors
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According to a study from the United States, "This study examined long-term mutual predictive associations between social and financial resources and high-risk alcohol consumption in later life. A sample of 55- to 65-year-old older adults (n = 719) was surveyed at baseline and 10 years and 20 years later."
"At each contact point, participants completed an inventory that assessed social and financial resources and alcohol consumption. Over the 20-year interval, there was evidence of both social causation and social selection processes in relation to high-risk alcohol consumption. In support of a social causation perspective, higher levels of some social resources, such as participation in social activities, friends' approval of drinking, quality of relationship with spouse, and financial resources, were associated with a subsequent increased likelihood of high-risk alcohol consumption. Conversely, indicating the presence of social selection, high-risk alcohol consumption was associated with subsequent higher levels of friends' approval of drinking and quality of the spousal relationship, but lower quality of relationships with extended family members. These findings reflect mutual influence processes in which older adults' social resources and high-risk alcohol consumption can alter each other," wrote R.H. Moos and colleagues.
The researchers concluded: "Older adults may benefit from information about how social factors can affect their drinking habits; accordingly, information about social causation effects could be used to guide effective prevention and intervention efforts aimed at reducing the risk that late-life social factors may amplify their excessive alcohol consumption."
Moos and colleagues published the results of their research in Alcoholism - Clinical and Experimental Research (Social and Financial Resources and High-Risk Alcohol Consumption Among Older Adults. Alcoholism - Clinical and Experimental Research, 2010;34(4):646-654).
For additional information, contact R.H. Moos, VA Health Care Systems, Center Health Care Evaluation MPD 152, 795 Willow Rd., Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA.
The publisher of the journal Alcoholism - Clinical and Experimental Research can be contacted at: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc., Commerce Place, 350 Main St., Malden 02148, MA, USA.