title: How alike are young non-drinkers, former-drinkers, low-risk drinkers, and hazardous drinkers?
abstract: The aim of this study was to examine whether - in terms of personality characteristics and beliefs--former-drinkers and people who have never consumed alcohol exist on a continuum that includes low-risk drinkers and hazardous drinkers, or are distinct groups. An online questionnaire hosted on a secure server was completed by 1418 young people (642 men and 776 women) aged 16-21 living in South-East England. Participants' scores on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) were used to classify them as non-drinkers, former-drinkers, low-risk drinkers or hazardous drinkers. Multinomial logistic regression identified eight significant multivariate correlates that explained 39% of the variance in men's AUDIT category membership (χ(2)(24) = 263.32, p < .01), and seven significant multivariate correlates that explained 41% of the variance in women's AUDIT category membership (χ(2)(21) = 332.91, p < .01). The results suggest that non-drinkers and former-drinkers are more similar to each other than they are to both low risk and hazardous drinkers. We should not, therefore, treat these groups of young people as representing a drinking continuum. In particular, interventions for high risk young drinkers may be more effective if distinguished from general campaigns intended for all young people.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer BN1 9QH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: rd48@sussex.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Richard O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: de Visser
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Brighton, Falmer BN1 9PH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Angie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.affiliation: University of Exeter Medical School, Magdalen Road, Exeter EX1 2LU, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, Falmer BN1 9QH, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Rebecca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Graber
authors.affiliation: NHS Brighton & Hove, Prestamex House, 171-173 Preston Road, Brighton BN1 6AG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scanlon
authors.affiliation: Brighton & Sussex Medical School, Falmer BN1 9PX, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Anjum
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Memon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D064829:Alcohol Abstinence / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013695:Temperance / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: AUDIT; Alcohol; Attitude; Personality; Youth