Alcohol consumption and dependence is linked to the extent that people experience need satisfaction while drinking alcohol in two Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

James H Conigrave,Emma L Bradshaw,Scott Wilson,Richard M Ryan,Michael F Doyle,K S Kylie Lee,Katherine M Conigrave,Jimmy Perry

doi:10.1186/s13722-021-00231-z

Abstract

BackgroundUnhealthy alcohol use is a key concern for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (‘Indigenous Australian’) communities. Due to systematic disadvantage and inter-generational trauma, Indigenous Australians may be less likely to have satisfied basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness). When people are need-thwarted, they may engage in compensatory behaviours to feel better in the short-term. We explore the relationship between perceived basic psychological needs satisfaction and alcohol consumption use among Indigenous Australians. Better understanding the functions that alcohol may play for some Indigenous Australian drinkers may aid communities, clinicians, and policy makers in improving programs for reducing drinking-related harms.MethodsWe performed a cross-sectional survey of Indigenous Australians (aged 16 years or older) living in two South Australian communities. Participants were eligible if they had consumed any alcohol in the past 12 months. Spearman correlations and linear regressions were used to determine if feeling more autonomous, competent, and related to others (need satisfied) while drinking, was linked to alcohol consumption and dependence.ResultsControlling for participant demographics, reporting feeling need satisfied while drinking was linked to drinking more alcohol per day, reporting more frequent symptoms of alcohol dependence, spending more money on alcohol, and scoring higher on the AUDIT-C.ConclusionsUnhealthy drinking may partly stem from attempts to satisfy basic psychological needs. Programs which support Indigenous Australians to meet basic psychological needs could reduce attempts to meet psychological needs through alcohol consumption.

Highlights

Alcohol is a major cause of mortality and disease worldwide [1] and can be damaging to Indigenous peoples who have been colonised [2, 3]
Understanding the various functions that alcohol has for Indigenous Australians may help clinicians and policy makers develop tailored interventions to reduce alcohol-related harms
We aimed to determine whether Indigenous Australians experience need satisfaction while drinking; and whether the extent to which Indigenous Australians find alcohol need-satisfying is linked to greater alcohol consumption and dependence

Summary

Introduction

Alcohol is a major cause of mortality and disease worldwide [1] and can be damaging to Indigenous peoples who have been colonised [2, 3]. In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (‘Indigenous Australian’) communities have identified risky drinking as a concern [4, 5]. The prevalence of risky drinking varies greatly within and between Indigenous Australian communities [7]. Understanding the various functions that alcohol has for Indigenous Australians may help clinicians and policy makers develop tailored interventions to reduce alcohol-related harms. Unhealthy alcohol use is a key concern for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (‘Indigenous Australian’) communities. Better understanding the functions that alcohol may play for some Indigenous Australian drinkers may aid communities, clinicians, and policy makers in improving programs for reducing drinking-related harms

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