Social and financial resources and high-risk alcohol consumption among older adults.
BACKGROUND
This study examined long-term mutual predictive associations between social and financial resources and high-risk alcohol consumption in later life.


METHODS
A sample of 55- to 65-year-old older adults (n = 719) was surveyed at baseline and 10 years and 20 years later. At each contact point, participants completed an inventory that assessed social and financial resources and alcohol consumption.


RESULTS
Over the 20-year interval, there was evidence of both social causation and social selection processes in relation to high-risk alcohol consumption. In support of a social causation perspective, higher levels of some social resources, such as participation in social activities, friends' approval of drinking, quality of relationship with spouse, and financial resources, were associated with a subsequent increased likelihood of high-risk alcohol consumption. Conversely, indicating the presence of social selection, high-risk alcohol consumption was associated with subsequent higher levels of friends' approval of drinking and quality of the spousal relationship, but lower quality of relationships with extended family members.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings reflect mutual influence processes in which older adults' social resources and high-risk alcohol consumption can alter each other. Older adults may benefit from information about how social factors can affect their drinking habits; accordingly, information about social causation effects could be used to guide effective prevention and intervention efforts aimed at reducing the risk that late-life social factors may amplify their excessive alcohol consumption.
Moos
Rudolf H
RH
Center for Health Care Evaluation, Department of Veterans Affairs, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California, USA. rmoos@stanford.edu
Brennan
Penny L
PL
Schutte
Kathleen K
KK
Moos
Bernice S
BS
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000191:economics* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012931:Social Environment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors