Adverse working conditions and alcohol use in men and women

Objective: This study examined the association between adverse working cond itions and abstinence and heavy drinking. Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study within the framework of a ge neral population survey conducted in Eindhoven, The Netherlands (N = 7533). Working conditions were classified into four domains: hazardous physical w orking conditions, demands at work, level of control over one's job, and su pport from coworkers and supervisors. Abstainers were compared with drinker s; within drinkers, heavy drinkers were compared with light-moderate drinke rs, and those who reported binge drinking were compared with those who did not report binge drinking. Results: Respondents who reported adverse working conditions were as likely to be abstainers as they were to be drinkers. Within drinkers, males and f emales who reported high hazardous physical working conditions were more li kely to be heavy drinkers than to be light-moderate drinkers (light-moderat e is not just an amount, but a combination of amount and frequency) and to report binge drinking (males only). Respondents who reported high demands w ere also more likely to be heavy drinkers than to be light-moderate drinker s. Conclusions: Stressful circumstances, such as adverse working conditions, w ere associated with high levels of alcohol intake among drinking men and wo men.