Gender differences in hazardous drinking among middle-aged in Europe: the role of social context and women’s empowerment

Abstract

Background:The aim of this study was to estimate the magnitude of gender differences in hazardous drinking among middle-aged people and to analyse whether these differences are associated with contextual factors, such as public policies or socioeconomic factors. Methods: Cross-sectional design. The study population included 50-to 64-year-old residents of 16 European countries who participated in the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe project conducted in 2010-12 (n = 26 017). We estimated gender differences in hazardous drinking in each country. To determine whether different social context or women's empowerment variables were associated with gender differences in hazardous drinking, we fitted multilevel Poisson regression models adjusted for various individual and country-level variables, which yielded prevalence ratios and their 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Results: Prevalence of hazardous drinking was significantly higher in men than women [30.2% (95% CI: 29.1-31.4%) and 18.6% (95% CI: 17.7-19.4%), respectively] in most countries, although the extent of these differences varied between countries. Among individuals aged 50-64 years in Europe, risk of becoming a hazardous drinker was 1.69 times higher (95% CI: 1.45-1.97) in men, after controlling for individual and country-level variables. We also found that lower values of the gender empowerment measure and higher unemployment rates were associated with higher gender differences in hazardous drinking. Conclusion: Countries with the greatest gender differences in hazardous drinking were those with the most restrictions on women's behaviour, and the greatest gender inequalities in daily life. Lower gender differences in hazardous drinking seem to be related to higher consumption among women.

Hazardous drinking in people aged 50 years or older: a cross-sectional picture of Europe, 2011-2013

“…These huge variations between countries are consistent with estimates from a previous study with country-level data including all adults (Shield et al, 2013). As expected, the prevalence of hazardous drinking was higher in men than women, in line with previous studies, which showed that not only was the frequency of alcohol consumption higher in men, but also the prevalence of risky drinking patterns such as hazardous or binge drinking (Bosque-Prous et al, 2015;Mäkelä et al, 2006;Wilsnack et al, 2009). As an example, prevalence of hazardous drinking in U.S. older people was estimated around 10% (Blazer and Wu, 2009;Merrick et al, 2008).…”

“…To choose the variables at the country level, we take into account a conceptual framework of gender differences in alcohol consumption (Bosque-Prous et al, 2015) adapted from two frameworks of social determinants of health (Comisión Para Reducir Las Desigualdades Sociales En Salud En España, 2012; Solar and Irwin, 2007). The variables of that framework which have been suggested to be related with alcohol consumption in people aged ≥50 years and, thus, were included in this study were: (a) standardized national unemployment rate in people aged 15-64 years (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2015); (b) standardized Gross Domestic Product per head (European Commission, 2015); (c) standardized Gender Inequality Index (United Nations Development Programme, 2015), which reflects gender-based disadvantages in three dimensions (reproductive health, empowerment and the labour market).…”

“…women are largely confined to the home and to domestic work, while their husbands spend a lot of time working outside the home), the prevalence of hazardous drinking among women is much lower than in men (Bosque-Prous et al, 2015). In this regard, in countries with smaller gender inequalities in society, the prevalence of hazardous drinking is very similar in women and men, while in Eastern European countries, in which gender roles are more polarized (e.g.…”

“…Alcohol consumption is socially patterned and has been significantly higher in men than women (Mäkelä et al, 2006;Wilsnack et al, 2009). The extent of these gender differences varies, depending on the modulating role of social and cultural factors (Ahlström et al, 2001;Bosque-Prous et al, 2015). Ageing and age-related changes (e.g.…”

Outcome of burn care : the mortality perspective

“…16, 108 109 Men´s health seem to be more likely to be affected by "risky" behaviour such as smoking or drinking alcohol, 83,110,111 whereas women´s health is influenced by more structural and psychosocial factors. 112,113 However, sex discrimination in health-care expenditure with a consequent survival advantage for men is well-known in some countries, 67, 114 so much so that female patients assess the quality of their hospital care significantly worse than do male patients, and call for better nursing care and better management of their pain.…”