Search resultsGender differences in the relationships between multiple measures of alcohol consumption and physical and mental health
Title
Gender differences in the relationships between multiple measures of alcohol consumption and physical and mental health
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2004
Authors
Journal
Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research
Volume
28
Issue
5
Pagination
754 - 764
Date published
2004
ISBN
01456008 (ISSN)
Keywords
Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, alcohol, alcohol consumption, Alcohol Drinking, Analysis of Variance, article, body composition, body water, Chi-Square Distribution, drinking behavior, Female, gender, health, health status, health survey, Health Surveys, human, Humans, male, measurement, mental health, metabolic regulation, Middle Aged, priority journal, sensitivity analysis, Sex Characteristics
Abstract
Background: Epidemiological research examining health consequences of alcohol consumption generally relies on average volume consumed, yet examinations of drinking patterns show different dimensions of use associated with different health outcomes. Gender differences in metabolism and body composition may lead to gender-specific consequences of drinking frequency, quantity consumed per occasion, average amount consumed, and drinking pattern. Inconsistent results suggest gender differences are not well understood. Methods: Participants were 3069 male and 2600 female health maintenance organization survey respondents. Gender differences in relationships between alcohol consumption and health were examined using analyses of covariance adjusting for age alone and for age, ethnicity, marital status, body water index, and smoking. Past-year alcohol consumption (frequency, quantity per occasion, average drinks per month, and drinking pattern) and health measures (Short Form-36 general health, physical functioning, mental health subscales) were examined. Results: Gender x drinking frequency and drinking quantity interactions were significant in age-adjusted and fully adjusted models of general health and physical functioning. Gender interactions for drinking pattern were significant in the age-adjusted model and marginally significant in the fully adjusted model. No gender x drinking measure interactions were found for mental health. Fully adjusted models attenuated but did not eliminate gender differences for health and magnified relationships for functioning, the latter after adjusting for body water. For both genders, light to moderate consumption and more frequent drinking were associated with better health and functioning; relationships were stronger among women than men. Conclusions: Gender x drinking measure interactions in health outcomes suggest analyses should include such interactions except, possibly, for mental health. Adjusting for potential confounders can attenuate (general health) or magnify (physical functioning) gender differences. Functional status appears a sensitive measure for evaluating gender differences in alcohol's health effects, adjusting for body water. Women's health may benefit proportionally more from moderate drinking than men's.