SEX-RATIOS OF DRINKING PATTERNS AND PROBLEMS AMONG BLACKS AND WHITES - RESULTS FROM A NATIONAL SURVEY

Objective: The purpose of this study is to explore whether there are d ifferences in sex ratios of drinking patterns and related problems amo ng blacks and whites, and if so to explain these differences. Method: The study is based on a national survey including 1,947 (male, 723; fe male, 1,224) black and 1,777 (male, 743; female, 1,034) white men and women who were sampled from U.S. adult households using probability me thods. Hierarchical regression methods were used to test whether there are significant racial differences in the sex ratio of drinking patte rns and problems in the two racial groups. Results: The findings showe d that there were no substantive differences in drinking sex ratios al ong racial lines. However, white women were at the highest risk of exp eriencing alcohol-related problems as rates of heavier drinking increa sed, and the effects of heavier drinking differed much more among the sexes for whites than blacks. Conclusions: The findings for whites are consistent with previous research showing that, due to both biologica l and psychosocial factors, women when consuming the same amounts of a lcohol as men may be at more risk for experiencing intoxication and al cohol-related problems. However, the findings for blacks, which show l ess problem vulnerability among women than men, have rarely been repor ted. It was suggested that the comparative risk of alcohol problems ma y be lower for black women due to possible physiological differences a nd differences in the normative climate of women's drinking in the two racial groups.