A problematic drinker in the family: variations in the level of negative impact experienced by sex, relationship and living status

Berends, Lynda, Ferris, Jason and Laslett, Anne-Marie (2012) A problematic drinker in the family: variations in the level of negative impact experienced by sex, relationship and living status. Addiction Research and Theory, 20 4: 300-306.


Author Berends, Lynda
Ferris, Jason
Laslett, Anne-Marie
Title A problematic drinker in the family: variations in the level of negative impact experienced by sex, relationship and living status
Journal name Addiction Research and Theory  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank B)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2012-08
Sub-type Article
DOI 10.3109/16066359.2011.629061
Volume number 20
Issue number 4
ISSN 1606-6359; 1476-7392
Start page 300
End page 306
Total pages 7
Place of publication London, United Kingdom
Publisher Informa Healthcare
Collection year 2013
Language eng
Abstract A national survey on harms experienced from others’ drinking was administered by telephone to 2649 randomly selected adults (18–98 years) in Australia. This article is about responses from participants concerning the family member whose drinking had the most negative impact on them (referred to as the problematic drinker). Respondents were asked about their relationship with the drinker, if they shared a household, and the level of negative impact they experienced. Of the 1494 family members identified as ‘fairly heavy drinkers’/‘drinking a lot sometimes’, the drinking of 592 (39.6%) had negatively affected 415 respondents in the previous 12 months. The problematic drinker was usually male (72.0%) and a partner (22.2%), child (18.2%), or sibling (16.3%). Most problematic drinkers in the home were partners (45.9%) or children (23.5%); there was no significant difference between problematic drinking sons living at home (62.0%) compared with problematic drinking daughters (45.2%). One-third of the respondents (35.8%) were affected ‘a lot’ by the problematic drinker; of those affected a lot, 52.6% lived with the problematic drinker. Severity of impact was significantly associated with the living status of the drinker but not with the sex of the drinker. This population-based study shows negative effects are often experienced when people have a family member who drinks a lot. While partners are often involved, a substantial proportion of problematic drinkers are adult children or siblings.
Keyword Family
Alcohol
Heavy drinking
Impact from other's drinking
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status Non-UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: Institute for Social Science Research - Publications
Non HERDC
 
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