RACIAL-DIFFERENCES IN WOMENS DRINKING NORMS AND DRINKING PATTERNS - ANATIONAL STUDY

This study explored whether norms regarding women's drinking were mole or less liberal among African American than among Caucasian women, an d whether female-specific drinking norms influence drinking rates and drinking problems among the two groups of women. The study is based on data from a 1984 national survey of subsamples of 1,224 African Ameri can and 1,034 Caucasian women. Logistic and multiple regression analys es showed that African Americans reported more conservative drinking n orms for women than Caucasians even when controlling for general drink ing norms and social characteristics. Other findings were that female- specific drinking norms affect the proportion of women drinkers, usual quantity of alcohol consumption, and symptoms of alcohol dependence. African American and Caucasian women were not found to differ in the e ffect of female-specific drinking norms on alcohol use or on alcohol-r elated problems. Future research should explore differences in cultura l factors that may affect attitudes towards women's drinking as well a s more detailed aspects of the relationship between women's drinking n orms and problem drinking.