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The “Health Benefits†of Moderate Drinking in Older Adults may be Better Explained by Socioeconomic Status

Author

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  • Andy Towers
  • Michael Philipp
  • Patrick Dulin
  • Joanne Allen

Abstract

ObjectivesTo assess whether a relationship between alcohol use and health exists for older adults before and after controlling for proxy and full indicators of socioeconomic status (SES).MethodSecondary analysis of data from 2,908 participants in the New Zealand Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2012) completing measures of alcohol use, health, SES proxies (income, education) and SES. Sample mean age was 65, 52% were female, more than 80% were drinkers, and more than 75% had educational qualifications.ResultsModerate drinkers had better health and SES than heavier or nondrinkers. The positive influence of moderate alcohol consumption on health was observed for men and women when controlling for SES proxies, but was substantially reduced in women and completely disappeared for men when controlling for full SES.DiscussionSES plays a key role in presumed “heath benefits†of moderate alcohol consumption for older adults. It accounts for any alcohol–health relationship in a sample of men of whom 45% consume at least one drink daily, and substantially attenuates the association between alcohol and health in a sample of women who are not frequent drinkers. Prior research may have missed the influence of SES on this alcohol–health relationship due to the use of incomplete SES measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Andy Towers & Michael Philipp & Patrick Dulin & Joanne Allen, 2018. "The “Health Benefits†of Moderate Drinking in Older Adults may be Better Explained by Socioeconomic Status," The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, The Gerontological Society of America, vol. 73(4), pages 649-654.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:geronb:v:73:y:2018:i:4:p:649-654.
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1093/geronb/gbw152
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    Cited by:

    1. Kjerstin Tevik & Geir Selbæk & Knut Engedal & Arnfinn Seim & Steinar Krokstad & Anne-S Helvik, 2019. "Mortality in older adults with frequent alcohol consumption and use of drugs with addiction potential – The Nord Trøndelag Health Study 2006-2008 (HUNT3), Norway, a population-based study," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(4), pages 1-24, April.

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