The Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Alcohol-Related Problems in a Community Sample of African American Women. (26th September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Klein, Hugh; Sterk, Claire E.; Elifson, Kirk W.
• Other Names: Bischof Gallus Academic Editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of addiction. Volume 2016(2016)
• Publication Date: 2016-09-26
• Subjects: Substance abuse -- Periodicals; Compulsive behavior -- Periodicals; 362.2905
• DOI: 10.1155/2016/7513827
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2090-7834

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose . This study examines the prevalence of alcohol-related problems, the factors underlying these problems, and whether or not there is evidence of syndemic effects in a community population of southern, urban African American women. Methods . Questionnaire-based interviews were conducted with 817 women, all African American, from 80 targeted census block groups in Atlanta, Georgia. Results . Most of the alcohol users (67.8%) experienced at least one problem as a result of their alcohol (ab)use, with most women experiencing two or more such problems. Eight factors were found to be associated with experiencing more alcohol problems: being aged 30 or older, having had no recent health insurance, lower levels of educational attainment, self-identifying as lesbian or bisexual, experiencing greater amounts of childhood maltreatment, greater impulsivity, perceiving one's local community or neighborhood to be unsafe, and having a larger number of criminally involved friends. Conclusions . Drinking-related problems were prevalent in this population. Numerous factors underlie the extent to which African American women experienced problems resulting from their alcohol use. There is strong evidence of syndemic-type effects influencing drinking problems in this population, and future efforts to reduce the negative impact of alcohol (ab)use ought to consider the adoption of programs using a syndemics' theory approach.