title: Are baby boomer women unique? The moderating effect of birth cohort on age in substance use patterns during midlife.
abstract: This study examined the relationships of age to use of alcohol, marijuana, and illicit drugs, and misuse of prescription drugs, among midlife women and whether these relationships are modified by birth cohort. Structural Equation Modeling was used to analyze National Survey on Drug Use and Health data, which included 2,035 baby boomer and silent generation cohort women, ages 30 to 55. Midlife women across cohorts reduced alcohol and marijuana use, but not illicit and prescription drug misuse, as they aged. A modifying effect of birth cohort was not supported, but findings did support differential aging effects across substances. Implications are discussed.
authors.affiliation: a School of Social Science and Human Services , Ramapo College of New Jersey , Mahwah , New Jersey , USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie Elias
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Sarabia
authors.affiliation: b Silver School of Social Work , New York University , New York , New York , USA.
authors.forename: James I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D011158:Population Growth; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: Alcohol; baby boomers; cohort; illicit drugs; midlife; prescription drugs; women