title: Associations between self-reported illness and non-drinking in young adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated associations between self-reported illness, social factors and health behaviours and non-drinking among young people aged 18-34 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Logistic regression analysis of cross-sectional national survey data, collected from the Health Survey for England 2006 and 2008. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and are self-reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2826 male and 3618 females aged 18-34 years drawn from a nationally representative multi-stage stratified probability sampling design across England.
  
  
  METHODS
  Non-drinkers were based on those who reported 'no' to drinking alcohol currently. Exposure measures included self-reports of having a limiting long-standing illness, long-standing illness or self-reported poor health. We adjusted for ethnicity, income, education, general physical activity and other factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Having a limiting long-standing illness during early adulthood increased the odds of being a non-drinker 1.74 times for men (P < 0.01) and 1.45 times for women (P < 0.01). In both men and women belonging to the lowest income quintile or having no qualifications was associated with increased odds of being a non-drinker (P < 0.001), indicating that the social gradient in non-drinking begins at an early age. Men and women aged 18-34 years with the lowest activity levels were also more likely to be non-drinkers (P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Young adults who have a limiting long-standing illness are more likely not to drink alcohol even after adjusting for a range of social and demographic measures. Studies on the putative health benefits of moderate alcohol consumption later in life need to take account of early life history.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL, London, UK. l.ngfat.10@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ng Fat
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shelton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D057566:Self Report; D055815:Young Adult