title: Alcohol use in women 65 years of age and older.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between depression, codependency, self-coherence, and alcohol use and health outcomes in women 65 years of age and older. The framework is Erikson's ego-development theory. A convenience sample of 238 women was obtained from women attending flu shot clinics. This cross-sectional field study used survey methodology. Measures included the Beck Depression Inventory, Codependency Assessment Tool, Self-Coherence Survey Form C, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Alcohol Use Questionnaire, Self-Rated Health Tool, Quality of Life Visual Analogue Scale, Functional Ability Scale, Illness Prevention Screening Behaviors Checklist, and Sociodemographic Data. Results indicate a low consumption and little variation in use of alcohol. There were no significant associations between alcohol consumption and the dependent variables. Depression was significantly related to all the health outcomes; codependency was significantly related to all health outcomes except perceived quality of life; and self-coherence was significantly related to all health outcomes except illness prevention behavior. These findings have important implications for those providing care for older women.
authors.affiliation: Kent State University College of Nursing, Ohio 44242, USA. csedlak@kent.edu
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Sedlak
authors.forename: M O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Doheny
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Estok
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Zeller
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D017004:Codependency, Psychological; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D015438:Health Behavior; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*; D016387:Women's Health