Online Program

Return to main conference page
Friday, May 18
Applications
Data Sciences Applications for Critical Health Issues I
Fri, May 18, 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Lake Fairfax A
 

Alcohol Abstainers versus Drinkers: Changes in Health Outcomes after 20 Years (304372)

Presentation

*Kelly S Marczynski, SUNY Buffalo State 
John W Welte, Research Institute on Addictions at UB 
William F. Wieczorek, SUNY Buffalo State 

Keywords: Abstainers, drinkers, health outcomes

There is much research on characterization of alcohol drinkers, but relatively little on characterization of abstainers. It is well documented that many health consequences (both physical and psychological) are associated with alcohol consumption. Studies of abstainers have found them to be at increased risk over light-to-moderate drinkers for various diseases (e.g., cardiovascular), suggesting that amount of alcohol consumed is not an independent predictor of health problems, and that other predictors/covariates of abstinence place abstainers at higher risk. So how do abstainers differ from various levels of drinkers with respect to selected characteristics relative to health and health functioning? To examine these issues initially, data from the “Drinking and Delinquency among Young Men” study, consisting of 625 young men aged 16-19 selected from Buffalo, NY by random digit dial (RDD) in 1992-93, were analyzed. Characteristics examined included: demographics, drinking and drug use, delinquent behavior, degree of sociability (as measured by social activities, school or work performance, etc.), degree of family stability, physical health problems, and personality characteristics and psychiatric symptoms. In the intervening years, three more waves of data were collected. (Delete sentence). The current study will examine the fourth wave for comparison with the first wave. Results may lead to a better understanding of why people choose to not drink alcohol, and how this impacts overall well-being. Such understanding is imperative in light of the suggested positive association between some alcohol intake (i.e., little or moderate, as opposed to abstention or heavy drinking) and better physical health. More research may to discern whether the same is true for mental health and other domains of life functioning.