Population-Level Impacts of Alcohol Use on Mental and Physical Health Outcomes

Janet L. Fanslow; Ladan Hashemi; Pauline J. Gulliver; Tracey K. D. McIntosh; David A. L. Newcombe

doi:10.3390/healthcare12161592

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Population-Level Impacts of Alcohol Use on Mental and Physical Health Outcomes

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Population-Level Impacts of Alcohol Use on Mental and Physical Health Outcomes

Janet L. Fanslow, Ladan Hashemi, Pauline J. Gulliver, Tracey K. D. McIntosh and David A. L. Newcombe

Healthcare, Vol.12(16), pp.1-15

2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12161592

PMID: 39201151

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Abstract

alcohol use

drinking patterns

health outcomes

positive mental health

New Zealand

This study explores patterns of alcohol drinking within a representative New Zealand sample (2887 participants (1464 female, 1423 male)). Alcohol use and drinking patterns across the population are described. Multivariable logistic regressions document associations between alcohol use and drinking patterns and the likelihood of experiencing different health outcomes. Alcohol use, early drinking initiation, frequent drinking, and heavy episodic drinking (HED) are prevalent in New Zealand and vary in relation to gender, age, and socioeconomic characteristics. Those who reported alcohol-related problems were more likely to report poor mental health (AOR: 2.21; 95% CI: 1.42-3.46) and disability (AOR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.06-3.00), and less likely to experience positive mental health (AOR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.18-0.42). Those who reported HED were also less likely to experience good general health (AOR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.47-0.81) and positive mental health (AOR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.53-0.84). Younger age cohorts were more likely to engage in early drinking, and those who initiated regular drinking before age 18 were more likely to report HED and alcohol-related problems. Findings indicate that problem drinking and HED are not only associated with poor physical health, but also reduce the likelihood of individuals experiencing positive mental health. This provides information to enable public health practitioners to target alcohol prevention strategies at the entire population of drinkers.

Details

Title: Population-Level Impacts of Alcohol Use on Mental and Physical Health Outcomes
Authors: Janet L. Fanslow - University of Auckland
Ladan Hashemi - University of Auckland
Pauline J. Gulliver - University of Auckland
Tracey K. D. McIntosh - University of Auckland
David A. L. Newcombe - University of Auckland
Publication details: Healthcare, Vol.12(16), pp.1-15
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2024
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12161592
ISSN: 2227-9032
PMID: 39201151
Copyright note: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Data Availability: The research data presented in this article are not readily available due to the confidentiality and sensitivity of the data and Māori data sovereignty.
Grant note: This research was funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, contract number: CONT-42799-HASTR-UOA.
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Psychology
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991196050602621
Output Type: Journal article

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