216799 Associations between income inequality and alcohol consumption patterns and problems

Monday, November 8, 2010 : 8:48 AM - 9:06 AM

Katherine J. Karriker-Jaffe, PhD , Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, CA
Jason Bond, PhD , Alcohol Research Group, Public Health Institute, Emeryville, CA
Income inequality contributes to poor health, but few studies have focused on inequality's relationship to health risk behaviors. We examined whether associations between state-level income inequality and four alcohol outcomes differed by measure of inequality or outcome, as well as whether associations were moderated by individual-level disadvantage (minority race/ethnicity, household income, neighborhood poverty). Survey data from 2000 and 2005 National Alcohol Surveys (N = 11,107) were linked to state-level indicators of income from the 2000 US Decennial Census. Measures of inequality were the Gini coefficient, Black-to-White poverty ratio (BWPR), and Hispanic-to-White poverty ratio (HWPR). Past-year alcohol outcomes were volume consumed during light-to-moderate-drinking occasions (1-4 drinks); volume consumed during heavy-drinking occasions (5+ drinks); interpersonal, health, legal and work-related consequences of drinking; and DSM-IV dependence. Multilevel linear and logistic regression models adjusted for individual demographics, state-level urbanicity and state-level median income. Main effects models showed the Gini coefficient was not related to the outcomes. Neither household nor neighborhood poverty moderated inequality's effects. High inequality was associated with increased light and heavy drinking by Whites, but not by Hispanics or Blacks. For both Blacks and Hispanics, high inequality was associated with increased risk of consequences compared to Whites. Findings suggest Blacks and Hispanics in areas characterized by high levels of inequality may be at particular risk for alcohol-related consequences, but this may not be due to increased consumption. Further examination of types of consequences experienced by Blacks and Hispanics in states with race-linked poverty are needed to reduce disparities in alcohol-related problems.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
1. Compare associations of different indicators of income equality with several alcohol outcomes. 2. Identify the groups for whom income inequality has the most detrimental effects on alcohol use and its consequences.

Keywords: Alcohol Problems, Social Inequalities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I conduct alcohol epidemiology research to understand the relationships between area-level factors and individual health risk behaviors and consequences.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.