The relationship between alcohol consumption and problem behaviours: Gender differences among British adults

Plant, Moira; Miller, Patrick; Plant, Martin

Abstract

This study sets out to investigate the possible association between alcohol consumption and eight types of problem behaviour in the lives of a sample of 2027 British adults. It also examines gender differences in the prevalence of these problems. The problems considered were related to working, eating, shopping, use of the Internet, sexual activity, exercise, gambling and dieting. Last occasion's alcohol consumption was significantly associated with having experienced problems related to work, gambling, dieting and sexual activity. Total previous week's drinking was only associated with two of these problems - gambling and sexual activity. There were a number of distinct gender differences in the levels of specific problems reported. Females were significantly more likely than males to report having experienced problems related to eating and dieting. Conversely, males were more likely than females to report having had problems related to work, use of the Internet, sexual activity and gambling. These findings do indicate that adult drinking was associated with several forms of "problem behaviour". Even so, they do not support the conclusion that all such behaviours are necessarily interconnected. The gender differences that emerged were not unexpected in view of prevailing social norms and stereotypes concerning the behaviour of the sexes. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Group Ltd.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Feb 1, 2005
• Journal: Journal of Substance Use
• Print ISSN: 1465-9891
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 22-30
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1465989042000271282
• Keywords: alcohol, work, eating, shopping, Internet use, sexual activity, exercise, gambling, dieting, problems, compulsion, GENACIS
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1053394
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1465989042000271282