Alcohol-related adverse consequences: cross-cultural variations in attribution process among young adults

Abstract

Reporting of alcohol-related adverse consequences seemed strongly affected by cultural norms. The latter may be exemplified by viewing drinking as 'time-out' behaviour. Respondents in countries with a stereotypical history of being 'dry' or with a stereotyped 'binge' drinking culture were more likely to attribute consequences to their alcohol consumption than people in 'wet' countries. This was particularly true for consequences that related to episodic 'time-out' heavy drinking.

Drinking history, current drinking and problematic sexual experiences among university students

“…High levels of hazardous drinking and high levels of risky and indiscriminate sexual behaviour in student populations mean that they will commonly coincide, even without a causal relationship between them. 9 A recent study by Kuendig et al 30 showed systematic differences in attribution of events to drinking by young people. In communities characterised by a predominant pattern of heavy episodic drinking, 18-25 year olds were more likely to attribute consequences such as blackouts or injuries to their drinking than those in communities with a pattern of more frequent, moderate drinking.…”

Binge drinking: Health impact, prevalence, correlates and interventions

“…Also data from large cross-national projects like the Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children Study (Inchley et al, 2016) and the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Drugs (Hibell et al, 2012) revealed large cultural differences with countries such as Armenia, Albania, Israel, Italy, Macedonia, and Portugal having a low proportion of binge drinkers and countries such as Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Slovak Republic and United Kingdom having a high proportion. The authors argued that excessive drinking on particular occasions is more socially acceptable in northern Europe than in the wine-producing countries of Southern Europe, where the predominant drinking pattern tends to be frequent consumption of moderate amounts of alcohol, often with meals (Braker & Soellner, 2016;Kuendig et al, 2008;Room, 2001). Moreover, differences in alcohol policy and traditional drinking patterns in a society may also be partly responsible for cross-national differences in adolescent binge drinking Gilligan, Kuntsche, & Gmel, 2012).…”

Social-Environmental Factors and Suicide Mortality: A Narrative Review of over 200 Articles

“…Alcohol is also thought to be associated with higher rates of suicide in some Indigenous groups and in the Pacific, although empirical data on this relationship is scarce (De Leo, Milner, & Sveticic, 2012;Laliberté & Tousignant, 2009;Rubinstein, 1992). At a social level, these associations may vary depending on gender, the prevalence and type of alcohol available, and the attitude toward alcohol consumption in society (Bloomfield, Stockwell, Gmel, & Rehn, 2003;Kuendig et al, 2008;Landberg, 2008Landberg, , 2009Norström & Skog, 2001;Peele, 1997;Rossow, 1996). For example, the relationship between suicide and alcohol consumption per capita appears to be more noticeable in countries where spirit consumption is high (such as those in Eastern Europe), compared to countries with moderate drinking practices (Inelmen et al, 2010;Landberg, 2008;Pridemore, 2006;Stickley, Jukkala, & Norstrom, 2011).…”