Occupational correlates of problem drinking among construction industry workers in California

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.