The relationship of tobacco and alcohol use with ageing self-perceptions in older people in Ireland

Abstract

Background: Health behaviour patterns in older groups, including tobacco and alcohol use, are key factors in chronic disease prevention. We explore ageing self-perceptions as motivating factors behind smoking and drinking alcohol in older adults, and the complex reasons why individuals engage harmfully in these behaviours. Methods: Cigarette and alcohol use was assessed in a large cross-sectional national sample aged 50 years and above from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) (n = 6,576). The Brief Ageing Perceptions Questionnaire (BAPQ) assessed individual's views of their own ageing across five domains. Study hypothesis that stronger beliefs on each of the BAPQ domains would be related to drinking and smoking was examined using multinomial logit models (MNLM). Regression parameter estimates for all variables were estimated relative risk ratios (RRR). Results: More women were non-drinkers (30 % vs. 20 %) and men displayed significantly higher alcohol use patterns. One in five older Irish adults was a current smoker (16.8 % of women, 17 % of men), and smoking and harmful drinking were strongly associated (P < .001). Some domains of ageing perceptions were significantly associated with harmful drinking and smoking. While the risk of being be harmful drinker decreased with stronger beliefs about the positive consequences of ageing (RRR 0.89), it increased with higher scores on both emotional representation and control positive domains. Greater awareness of ageing and stronger emotional reaction to ageing increased likelihood of smoking. A greater sense of control over the outcomes of ageing was associated with increased risk of both harmful drinking (RRR control positive 1.16) and smoking (RRR control and consequences negative 1.25). This suggests optimistic bias in relation to perceived health risk from smoking and harmful drinking as a potential adverse effect of perceptions of control. Risks of concurrent smoking and harmful drinking increased with chronic awareness of ageing (RRR 1.24), and negative emotional responses to it (RRR 1.21), and decreased with stronger perceptions of the positive consequences of ageing (RRR 0.85). Conclusions: The relationship between ageing perceptions, smoking and drinking is complex. Altering perceptions of ageing may be a useful intervention target aimed at facilitating engagement in preventative health behaviours in older people.

Global reach of ageism on older persons’ health: A systematic review

“…Outcomes in this category included unhealthy diet, medication noncompliance, excessive drinking, and smoking. Results from a sample of 6,576 Irish older persons found negative self-perceptions of aging predicted increased risk of harmful drinking and smoking [68].…”

Use of web-based screening and brief intervention for unhealthy alcohol use by older adults

“…Older adults (aged 66–80) in this study identified the lowest mean of items “not good about drinking” and the lowest score on the importance of changing drinking habits. These findings may be because, consistent with the literature, older adults may not fully understand the risks of drinking, define moderate use above recommended limits, or do not think cutting down on drinking levels is important (Masters, 2003; Morgan et al, 2009; Villiers-Tuthill, Copley, McGee, & Morgan, 2016). In addition, while most internet interventions for alcohol misuse have been designed for younger populations (e.g., college students) (Arnaud et al, 2016; Bewick et al, 2008; Tait & Christensen, 2010), our findings showed some differences in responses to specific items to both “what is not good about drinking” and “barriers to changing drinking habits” between younger and older adults.…”

Acceptance of Love and Remarriage Among Older Adults in the Philippines

“…Acceptance of love and remarriage in older age was associated with more smoking, majority smoking a pack a day or less, in men but less smoking in women. A study observed that older adults who reported stronger perceptions of control over negative consequences of aging (those with positive ageism) have increased smoking and drinking as potential coping behaviors (Villiers-Tuthill et al, 2016). Similarly, in our study, men who reported acceptance, positive ageism, were more likely to be smokers.…”

“…Acceptance of love and remarriage in older age was associated with more drinking, majority drinking less than once a month. Not only is drinking used as a coping behavior to counteract the negative consequences of aging, but it is also often used as a facilitator for social engagement (Kelly et al, 2018; Villiers-Tuthill et al, 2016). Therefore, the association between acceptance and drinking could be due to the higher level of social activity in individuals who report acceptance.…”