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How alike are young non-drinkers, former-drinkers, low-risk drinkers, and hazardous drinkers?

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-08, 17:59 authored by Richard De VisserRichard De Visser, Angie Hart, Charles Abraham, Rebecca Graber, Tom Scanlon, Anjum MemonAnjum Memon
The aim of this study was to examine whether – in terms of personality characteristics and beliefs – former-drinkers and people who have never consumed alcohol exist on a continuum that includes low-risk drinkers and hazardous drinkers, or are distinct groups. An online questionnaire hosted on a secure server was completed by 1418 young people (642 men and 776 women) aged 16–21 living in South-East England. Participants' scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were used to classify them as non-drinkers, former-drinkers, low-risk drinkers or hazardous drinkers. Multinomial logistic regression identified eight significant multivariate correlates that explained 39% of the variance in men's AUDIT category membership (?2(24) = 263.32, p < .01), and seven significant multivariate correlates that explained 41% of the variance in women's AUDIT category membership (?2(21) = 332.91, p < .01). The results suggest that non-drinkers and former-drinkers are more similar to each other than they are to both low risk and hazardous drinkers. We should not, therefore, treat these groups of young people as representing a drinking continuum. In particular, interventions for high risk young drinkers may be more effective if distinguished from general campaigns intended for all young people.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Addictive Behaviors

ISSN

0306-4603

Publisher

Elsevier

Issue

8

Volume

39

Page range

1258-1264

Department affiliated with

  • Primary Care and Public Health Publications

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2014-07-30

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2014-07-30

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