Identity and Drinking: A Longitudinal Follow-Up

(修订) 描述(由申请人提供)：我们建议延长目前资助的(K01)饮酒横断面研究。具体地说，我们将研究酒精使用模式的变化，以及大量饮酒和饮酒相关问题的风险和保护因素随时间的变化，这些女性被认为是与酒精相关问题的高风险人群。然而，很少有研究涉及这一群体中与酗酒或与饮酒有关的问题有关的风险和保护因素；很少有研究包括适当的比较组；也没有对大样本进行纵向研究。此外，过去的研究包括的样本主要是白人，受过良好教育的中产阶级，年龄在25岁到40岁之间。因此，这项研究的具体目的是：1)描述和比较不同年龄和种族/族裔群体的妇女的饮酒模式(饮酒水平、大量饮酒、醉酒)和与饮酒有关的问题(饮酒不良后果、依赖症状)；2)考察饮酒模式的变化以及变化的预测因素(以基线[在当前研究中]和3年后衡量)；3)建立与酗酒和酗酒相关问题有关的风险和保护因素模型，并测试这些模型在几个年龄和种族/少数民族群体中的适用性。这项拟议的研究将使用国家妇女健康和生活经验研究(NSHLEW)采访方案和措施。数据将使用计算机辅助的面对面采访的方式收集，从芝加哥和周边郊区招募了450名参与当前研究的人。这些女性，目前18岁或以上，将在基线面谈3年后重新面谈。来自NSHLEW的城市和郊区女性将被用于比较。在预测饮酒模式和问题时，将使用各种统计技术，包括结构方程建模，以确定最重要的风险和保护因素。了解增加或缓冲风险的因素将有助于制定更具文化相关性的预防和干预战略。对酒精使用的更多了解还将提供有关性别和遵守(或不遵守)女性酒精使用规范的影响的重要理论和实践信息。

(Revised) DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): We propose to extend a currently funded (K01) cross-sectional study of drinking. Specifically, we will examine changes over time in patterns of alcohol use and in risk and protective factors for heavy drinking and drinking-related problems among a diverse sample of women who are assumed to be at heightened risk for alcohol-related problems. However, very few studies have addressed risk and protective factors associated with heavy drinking or drinking-related problems among this group of women; few have included appropriate comparison groups; and no longitudinal studies of large samples have been conducted. Further, past studies have included samples that are primarily white, well educated, middle class, and between 25 and 40 years old. Thus, the specific aims of the study are to: 1) Describe and compare patterns of drinking (drinking levels, heavy episodic drinking, intoxication) and drinking-related problems (adverse drinking consequences, dependence symptoms) in women across several age and racial/ethnic groups; 2) Examine changes in drinking patterns, and predictors of change, over 3 years (measured at baseline [in the current study] and 3 years later); and 3) Develop models of risk and protective factors associated with heavy drinking and drinking related problems and test the fit of these models across several age and racial/ethnic minority groups. The proposed research will use the National Study of Health and Life Experiences of Women (NSHLEW) interview protocol and measures. Data will be collected using computer-assisted, face-to-face interviews with the 450 recruited for the current study from Chicago and surrounding suburbs. These women, currently 18 years old or older, will be reinterviewed 3 years from their baseline interviews. Urban and suburban women from the NSHLEW will be used for comparison. A variety of statistical techniques, including structural equation modeling, will be used to identify the most important risk and protective factors in predicting drinking patterns and problems. Understanding factors that increase or buffer risk will permit the development of more culturally relevant prevention and intervention strategies. Greater understanding of alcohol use will also provide important theoretical and practical information about the influence of gender and adherence (or nonadherence) to norms on women's use of alcohol.