The impact of alcohol on those other than the drinker is an under- researched area with important policy implications.
This study is a first step in investigating relationships between exposure to heavy drinkers in respondent's lives with measures of health status and wellbeing.
This study is a first step in investigating relationships between exposure to heavy drinkers in respondent's lives with measures of health status and wellbeing.
A cross-sectional general population survey was carried out among 3068 New Zealand residents aged 12 to 80 years (response rate - 64%) using an in house Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing system.
Respondents’ estimates of health status (EQ5 – D) and subjective wellbeing (Personal Wellbeing Index) were measured along with self reports of heavy drinkers in their lives, demographic variables and own drinking.
More than one in four of the sample had experienced someone they considered to be a heavy drinker in their environment in the past 12 months. An index of exposure to heavy drinkers, reflecting numbers of heavy drinkers and co-habitation, predicted lower health status and personal wellbeing while controlling for demographic variables and respondent's own drinking.
There is a relationship between exposure to heavy drinkers and reduced personal wellbeing and poorer health status in this cross-sectional general population sample. Exposure to heavy drinkers may have negative impacts for others.
Read Full Abstract
Request Reprint E-Mail: s.casswell@massey.ac.nz
Read Full Abstract
Request Reprint E-Mail: s.casswell@massey.ac.nz
