SOCIETAL-LEVEL PREDICTORS OF GROUPS DRINKING PATTERNS - A RESEARCH SYNTHESIS FROM THE COLLABORATIVE ALCOHOL-RELATED LONGITUDINAL PROJECT

Objectives. Period effects of per capita consumption of alcohol and di vorce rates are assessed for change in quantity and frequency among ag e/sex groups in multiple longitudinal studies. Methods. Twenty-five st udies of quantity and 29 studies of frequency are used. Studies are fr om 15 nations and cover periods of 1 to 21 years. Models predict the s tandardized mean difference for quantity and frequency based on period effects and group-level and methodological variables. Results. When b oth the period effects of per capita consumption and the divorce rate are considered, the divorce rate significantly predicts change in quan tity and frequency. An increase in the divorce rate is associated with a stronger decrease in frequency among younger people; men are more l ikely than women to decrease their frequency of drinking when divorce rates rise. Conclusions. Multiple societal-level factors should be con sidered critical in influencing the drinking patterns of groups. These results suggest that an increase in the divorce rate is associated wi th more ''dry'' social contexts, characterized possibly by drinking pa tterns of a more ''volitive'' nature (i.e., heavier quantity per occas ion and less frequent drinking).