183647 Occupational correlates of problem drinking among construction industry workers in California

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Carol B. Cunradi, MPH, PhD , Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Berkeley, CA
Genevieve M. Ames, PhD , Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Berkeley, CA
Michael Duke, PhD , Prevention Research Center, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Berkeley, CA
Recent research indicates that workers in the construction industry have elevated prevalence of heavy drinking, yet few studies have investigated its occupational correlates among workers in this industry. The purpose of this study is to estimate the contribution of work-related factors to problem drinking among a multiethnic sample (n=1088) of construction workers in California. Approximately 10% of the sample is female. Survey data were obtained from workers who participated in a voluntary, confidential occupational health survey administered with the support of their union. Problem drinking was measured with the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), a screener for past-year hazardous drinking. Occupational measures included job strain, job dissatisfaction, workplace interpersonal conflict, perceived discrimination, and the occurrence of work-related accidents and injuries. Overall prevalence of problem drinking was 18%, with a greater proportion of female workers meeting the criteria for problem drinking than male workers (25% vs. 17%; chi square=4.15, p < 0.05). Results of multivariate logistic regression, adjusted for educational level and race/ethnicity, showed that job strain (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.28), workplace interpersonal conflict (OR=1.06), and job dissatisfaction (OR=1.22) were significantly associated with likelihood of problem drinking. Age was inversely associated with risk of problem drinking (OR=0.98), and male workers were significantly less likely to be problem drinkers than female workers (OR=0.53). Women in male-dominated blue-collar occupations may be at risk for problem drinking. Because aspects of the psychosocial work environment can be modified, these findings have important implications for the prevention of problem drinking among construction industry workers.

Learning Objectives:
Learning objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. Describe the importance of examining the occupational correlates of problem drinking among construction industry workers. 2. Evaluate findings that suggest that aspects of the psychosocial work environment contribute to risk of problem drinking among a multiethnic sample of construction industry workers. 3. Recognize the study finding’s implications for prevention of problem drinking among construction industry workers.

Keywords: Occupational Health, Alcohol Problems

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have 9 years of post-graduate expereince in occupational and alcohol research. I have published extensively in these areas.
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.