Publication year
2013
Citation Title
Gender differences in the correlates of hazardous drinking among Iraq and Afghanistan veterans.
Journal Name
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Journal Volume
127
Issue Number
3-Jan
Page Numbers
15-22
DOI
10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2012.06.003
Summary
Survey data from a community sample of OEF/OIF/OND Veterans were used to assess the prevalence of hazardous drinking among this population. Gender differences in the risk and protective factors for hazardous drinking were also examined. A variety of risk and protective factors influenced rates of hazardous drinking.
Key Findings
In the sample 30% of male Veterans and 16% of female Veterans reported scores indicative of hazardous drinking.
Among male Veterans, younger age, higher incidence of exposure to assaultive trauma, and higher levels of conflict in interpersonal relationships were predictive of hazardous drinking.
Among female Veterans, younger age and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, especially emotional numbing, were predictive of hazardous drinking.
Implications for Program Leaders
Educate practitioners about gender differences associated with hazardous drinking among Service members
Tailor their services to align with the distinct risk and protective factors for male and female Service members engaging in hazardous drinking behaviors
Offer support groups for Service members and families coping with substance use and abuse issues
Implications for Policy Makers
Continue to support programs designed to help military personnel with substance abuse issues
Recommend routine screening for hazardous drinking among Service members at specified intervals across the deployment cycle
Support research efforts that develop and evaluate the effectiveness of programs that help Service members who engage in hazardous drinking
Methods
Data were collected during phase two of the Women Veterans Cohort Study (WVCS).
Participants were enrolled for care at a Veteran Affairs hospital in Indiana or the New England region.
Veterans completed a self-report survey that assessed hazardous drinking, PTSD, depression, combat exposure, traumatic events, military sexual trauma, social support, and interpersonal conflict.
Participants
Six hundred thirty-four Veterans participated in the study.
The majority of participants were White (84%), female (54%), and the average age of participants was 37.8 years (SD = 10.3 years).
Participants were 65% Army, 17% Air Force, 10% Navy, 8% Marines; 36% were Active Duty, 37% were National Guard, and 27% were Reserve.
Limitations
Given the low response rate (8%), participants may differ from non-participants in meaningful ways (e.g., those who responded may be functioning differently than those who did not respond).
This study relied on self-report rather than diagnostic measures which may bias results as participants may not have been forthcoming in their drinking behaviors.
Data were collected in two regions of the country; the ability to extrapolate these findings to Veterans in other parts of the United States is unknown.
Avenues for Future Research
Investigate how hazardous drinking may change across the course of the deployment cycle
Examine potential causes and adverse outcomes of hazardous drinking among Service members over time
Evaluate the effectiveness of substance use and abuse programs currently utilized in the military
Focus
Multiple Branches
Target Population
Population Focus
Military Branch
Military Component
Abstract
Background: Despite increasing numbers of women veterans from the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, few studies have examined hazardous drinking in this group. The present study examined the prevalence of and risk and protective factors for hazardous drinking in a community-based sample of men and women veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND). Methods: Veterans completed a structured survey that assessed hazardous drinking using the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), and a broad range of demographic, life history, and psychopathology variables. Correlations and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine risk and protective factors associated with hazardous drinking. Results: A total 30.2% of male veterans and 16.3% of female veterans screened positive for hazardous drinking. In a multivariate analysis in male veterans, younger age, lifetime exposure to assaultive trauma, and conflict in interpersonal relationships were independently associated with hazardous drinking (p < .05). Among women veterans, younger age and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms were independently associated with hazardous drinking in a multivariate analysis (p < .05). Secondary analyses of PTSD symptom clusters revealed that emotional numbing symptoms were independently related to hazardous drinking in women veterans (p < .05). Conclusions: Results of this study suggest that hazardous drinking is prevalent in both men and women OEF/OIF/OND veterans and is more likely to occur at younger ages. In addition, results indicate gender differences in the association between hazardous drinking and lifetime trauma history, PTSD symptoms, and interpersonal conflict, which may have important implications for the treatment of alcohol problems in men and women veterans.
Abstract Document
PRTW Document
Attach