Male Barroom Aggression among Members of the Australian Construction Industry: Associations with Heavy Episodic Drinking, Trait Variables and Masculinity Factors

Abstract

Introduction and Aims: Past research indicates heavy episodic drinking (HED), trait aggression, male honour and conformity to masculine norms are risk factors for male barroom aggression (MBA) perpetration. However, little is known about the impact of these variables on experiences of MBA victimization. Further, data derived previously, particularly in relation to perpetration have come from relatively low-risk samples comprising university students, limiting the generalizability of findings to other, at-risk male groups. Thus, the present study assessed the impact of the aforementioned variables as well as personality constructs of impulsivity and narcissism on both the perpetration of and victimization from MBA among a high-risk sample sourced from male members of the Australian construction industry. Method: A purposive sample of Australian male construction workers aged 18 to 69 years (n = 476, Mage = 25.90, SDage = 9.44) completed individual interviews at their current place of employment or while training at various trade schools in Geelong and Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Items related to past month HED, past year experiences of verbal and physical MBA (perpetration and victimization), trait aggression’s four factors (physical, verbal, anger, hostility), impulsivity, narcissism, male honour and conformity to masculine norms. Results: Participants reported high levels of verbal (24.2%) and physical (21%) MBA perpetration and verbal (33.6%) and physical (31.1%) MBA victimization. Hierarchical binary logistic regression analyses identified HED as the strongest predictor of aggression involvement, while trait physical aggression, trait anger, narcissism and conformity to norms endorsing violence and a need to win were significantly and positively associated with MBA perpetration. Conclusions: The present study reinforces the key relationships between heavy drinking and aspects of personality and MBA, while also highlighting narcissism as a risk factor for barroom aggression perpetration. Indeed, personality profiles and HED appear to exert stronger influences on MBA perpetration than socially constructed masculinity factors, most of which were unrelated to aggression involvement in bars, clubs or pubs.

Traditional masculine gender role norms and nonsuicidal self-injury in veterans.

“…Additionally, wall-object punching has been linked to both anger and impulsivity, such that the association between impulsivity and wall-object punching is indirectly related via anger (Patel et al, 2022). The Emotional Control masculine norm has similarly shown strong associations with impulsivity (Litherland et al, 2021) and anger (Salgado et al, 2019). As such, future research should seek to further examine the role of the Emotional Control norm in these pathways to determine if adherence to this masculine gender role norm may play a casual role in the engagement of wall-object punching in Veterans.…”

Understanding the link between alcohol dependence and victimisation risk: Is risk explained by peers or alcohol behaviours?

“…They may be increasingly excluded from healthier social groups and gravitate towards others with more chaotic and even antisocial behaviour, placing them in situations where victimisation is more likely. Research has indicated that both heavy‐episodic drinking and greater association with deviant peers are risk factors for victimisation (Litherland et al., 2021; Testa et al., 2019; Vézina et al., 2011; Wojciechowski, 2022). Because alcohol‐related disorders are positively associated with both (Coder et al., 2009; Jenkins et al., 2011; Miranda et al., 2013; Sloan et al., 2011), there is a potential that either or both mediate the relationship between alcohol dependence and victimisation.…”