title: Racial/ethnic disparities in alcohol-related problems: differences by gender and level of heavy drinking.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While prior studies have reported racial/ethnic disparities in alcohol-related problems at a given level of heavy drinking (HD), particularly lower levels, it is unclear whether these occur in both genders and are an artifact of racial/ethnic differences in drink alcohol content. Such information is important to understanding disparities and developing specific, targeted interventions. This study addresses these questions and examines disparities in specific types of alcohol problems across racial-gender groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using 2005 and 2010 National Alcohol Survey data (N = 7,249 current drinkers), gender-stratified regression analyses were conducted to assess black-white and Hispanic-white disparities in alcohol dependence and negative drinking consequences at equivalent levels of HD. HD was measured using a gender-specific, composite drinking-patterns variable derived through factor analysis. Analyses were replicated using adjusted-alcohol consumption variables that account for group differences in drink alcohol content based on race/ethnicity, gender, age, and alcoholic beverage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with white men, black and Hispanic men had higher rates of injuries/accidents/health and social consequences, and marginally greater work/legal consequences (p < 0.10). Hispanic women had marginally higher rates of social consequences. In main effects models controlling for demographics, light drinking and HD, only black women and men had greater odds of alcohol-related problems relative to whites. Interaction models indicated that compared with whites, black women had greater odds of dependence at all levels of HD, while both black and Hispanic men had elevated risk of alcohol problems only at lower levels of HD. Drink alcohol content adjustments did not significantly alter findings for either gender.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlights the gender-specific nature of racial/ethnic disparities. Interventions focused on reducing HD might not address disparities in alcohol-related problems that exist at low levels of HD. Future research should consider the potential role of environmental and genetic factors in these disparities.
authors.affiliation: Alcohol Research Group, Emeryville, California.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Witbrodt
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mulia
authors.forename: Sarah E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Zemore
authors.forename: William C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Kerr
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology*; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Alcohol Problems; Drink-Size Estimation; Gender Differences; Heavy Drinking; Racial Disparities
references.citation: JAMA. 2003 Jan 1;289(1):70-5
references.pmid: 12503979
references.citation: J Subst Abuse. 1994;6(2):137-54
references.pmid: 7804014
references.citation: J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2012 Nov;73(6):865-73
references.pmid: 23036203
references.citation: Psychol Bull. 2014 Jan;140(1):188-223
references.pmid: 23477449
references.citation: Am J Community Psychol. 2007 Dec;40(3-4):313-32
references.pmid: 17906927
references.citation: Soc Sci Med. 2005 Apr;60(8):1667-79
references.pmid: 15686800
references.citation: Addiction. 2005 Mar;100(3):281-92
references.pmid: 15733237
references.citation: J Health Soc Behav. 2010;51 Suppl:S15-27
references.pmid: 20943580
references.citation: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2005 Nov;29(11):2015-21
references.pmid: 16340459
references.citation: Drug Alcohol Depend. 2003 Dec 11;72(3):209-14
references.pmid: 14643937
references.citation: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2009 Apr;33(4):654-62
references.pmid: 19183131
references.citation: Alcohol. 2004 Jan;32(1):37-43
references.pmid: 15066702
references.citation: J Stud Alcohol. 1997 Nov;58(6):565-72
references.pmid: 9391915
references.citation: Am J Public Health. 2000 Jan;90(1):53-6
references.pmid: 10630137
references.citation: Addiction. 1995 Apr;90(4):499-513
references.pmid: 7773113
references.citation: J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2012 Jan;73(1):120-5
references.pmid: 22152669
references.citation: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2006 Sep;30(9):1576-82
references.pmid: 16930220
references.citation: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1995 Jun;19(3):623-7
references.pmid: 7573784
references.citation: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2007 Oct;31(10):1714-22
references.pmid: 17651465
references.citation: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 1998 Apr;22(2):534-8
references.pmid: 9581665
references.citation: Drug Alcohol Depend. 1999 Mar 1;54(1):45-56
references.pmid: 10101616
references.citation: Addiction. 2009 Sep;104(9):1503-11
references.pmid: 19438419
references.citation: Alcohol Res Health. 2010;33(1-2):152-60
references.pmid: 21209793
references.citation: J Urban Health. 2006 May;83(3):406-20
references.pmid: 16739044
references.citation: J Stud Alcohol. 1994 Jan;55(1):61-71
references.pmid: 8189728
references.citation: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2008 Sep;32(9):1623-9
references.pmid: 18616674
references.citation: Drug Alcohol Rev. 2012 Mar;31(2):141-50
references.pmid: 21954858
references.citation: Alcohol Clin Exp Res. 2013 Jun;37(6):1056-63
references.pmid: 23398190
references.citation: J Subst Abuse. 2000;12(1-2):33-49
references.pmid: 11288473
references.citation: Epidemiol Rev. 2012;34:89-102
references.pmid: 21930592
references.citation: Drug Alcohol Rev. 2012 Mar;31(2):135-40
references.pmid: 22168584
references.citation: Alcohol Alcohol. 1995 Mar;30(2):177-86
references.pmid: 7662036
references.citation: Addiction. 2003 Sep;98(9):1209-28
references.pmid: 12930209
references.citation: Alcohol Alcohol. 2012 Mar-Apr;47(2):178-86
references.pmid: 22262507
references.citation: Addiction. 1999 Jun;94(6):887-97
references.pmid: 10665077
references.citation: Alcohol Res Health. 2007;30(1):18-21
references.pmid: 17718396
references.citation: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 1997 May;23(2):281-99
references.pmid: 9143639
references.citation: Addiction. 2012 Apr;107(4):756-65
references.pmid: 22085024
references.citation: Drug Alcohol Depend. 1997 Jan 10;44(1):11-29
references.pmid: 9031816