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Abstract
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AIMS: We investigated if increased drinking frequency among adults in the second half of life co-occurred with increased usual quantity, and increased intoxication frequency.
DESIGN: Two-wave panel study. SETTING: Norway. PARTICIPANTS: Norwegian adults (1,017 women and 959 men) aged 40 to 79 years. MEASUREMENTS: Drinking frequency, usual quantity, and intoxication frequency was measured by self-report in 2002/2003 and again in 2007/2008. Information about gender, age, and level of education was obtained from the public register. Health was collected by self-report.
FINDINGS: Because of a significant gender by change in drinking frequency interaction effect on change in intoxication frequency (b = 0.02, P =.013), women and men were analyzed separately. After adjusting for covariates, women who increase their drinking frequency showed a non-significant decrease in usual quantity (low initial usual quantity (LIUQ): ß = -.01, P =.879; high initial usual quantity (HIUQ): ß = -.06, P =.164), and a non-significant increase in intoxication frequency (LIUQ: ß =.04, P =.569; HIUQ: ß =.09, P =.251). Men who increased their drinking frequency showed a small decrease in usual quantity (LIUQ: ß = -.06, P =.049; HIUQ: ß = -.05, P =.002) and a small increase in intoxication frequency (LIUQ: ß =.05, P =.035; HIUQ: ß =.13, P =.004).
CONCLUSION: Among Norwegian adults in the second half of life, increased drinking frequency appears to be associated with a small reduction in usual quantity, and a small increase in frequency of drinking to intoxication.
Language: en |