High Prevalence Of Binge Drinking Research Articles

Binge drinking in early adolescence : Results of the "Präventionsradar" from 2016 to 2023

In Germany, no other psychotropic substance is consumed as often and in such large quantities during adolescence as alcohol. This work aims to examine trends in binge drinking in early adolescence from 2016 to 2023. Based on seven waves of the "Präventionsradar," which is aschool-based epidemiological study in lower secondary education, the lifetime as well as the 30-day prevalence of binge drinking (for girls4, for boys5 alcoholic drinks on one occasion) were determined for the period from 2016 to 2023 for 12- to 15-year-olds. The analyses were based on 44,713 questionnaires. The sex ratio was balanced (50% female), and the mean age was 13.8years (SD = 1.02). From 2016 to 2023, lifetime prevalence of binge drinking increased significantly by 3.6percentage points to 25.3% (95% confidence interval 24.1-26.5). The 30-day prevalence did not change statistically during the observation period and was 15.9% (95% CI 14.9-16.9) in 2023. Compared to the previous year, both lifetime prevalence (-2.5percentage points) and 30-day prevalence of binge drinking (-3.5percentage points) decreased significantly in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020/2021) and increased again in subsequent years. Systematic differences between the genders could not be found. The German Youth Protection Act does not allow legal access to alcohol for the age group under study. Against this background, it is worrying that every fourth adolescent already reports experiences of binge drinking. Consistent structural and behavioral prevention measures are necessary to curb the high prevalence of binge drinking in childhood and adolescence.

Gender-based violence, psychological distress, sexual behaviours and binge drinking among female entertainment workers in Cambodia: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveTo examine the relationship between gender-based violence, HIV risks, psychological distress and binge drinking among female entertainment workers (FEWs) in Cambodia.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingPhnom Penh and three other provinces in Cambodia.ParticipantsWe recruited...

Prevalence of Binge Drinking by Caregivers of Persons with Alzheimer’s Disease or Related Dementia

Some caregivers of persons with Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias (ADRD) are known to be under high levels of burden, which is associated with higher levels of anxiety, depression, and stress. Previous research has established anxiety, depression, and stress are associated with binge drinking, but little research has examined binge drinking rates among ADRD caregivers. Binge drinking could influence the ability of ADRD caregivers to provide care. The purpose of this study was to explore the prevalence and prevalence correlates of binge drinking among ADRD caregivers using the 2019 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). We identified N = 1,642 persons who were the primary informal caregivers of a person with ADRD. Among them, the prevalence of binge drinking was 14 per 100 persons. Bivariable analyses suggested male caregivers and caregivers with 14 or more days of poor mental health in the past 30 days had the highest prevalence of binge drinking at 18 per 100 persons. Caregivers who were 65 or older or had the lowest prevalence at 3 per 100 persons. Caregiving characteristics revealed providing 20 to 39 hours of care per week had the highest prevalence of binge drinking (17 per 100) whereas spousal caregivers (9 per 100) had the lowest prevalence. Smoking status and hours per week providing care were associated with higher odds of binge drinking in multivariable analyses. Future research should examine if binge drinking by ADRD caregivers is related caregiver burden and the quality of care provided to the persons with ADRD.

Binge Drinking Among Public Sector Food Service Workers in Brazil: Physical and Psychosocial Demands on Focus.

To investigate occupational risk factors associated with binge drinking (BD) among public sector food service workers in a Brazilian capital. All workers from the Government-backed Economy Restaurant Program (GbERP) in Belo Horizonte city were evaluated. BD was defined as consumption of five or more doses (male) or four or more doses (female) of alcoholic beverages on a single occasion within 30 days. Occupational psychosocial and physical stressors were the main exposure variables; sociodemographic, health, and lifestyle variables were inserted as potential confounding factors. We performed logistic regression. A total of 214 people participated in the study and 30.7% reported BD. Psychosocial (violence and high demands) and ergonomic aspects were associated with the outcome. There was a high prevalence of BD among GbERP workers. Actions are necessary to reduce violence and high strain and consequently BD.

SPATIAL ASSOCIATION PATTERNS OF BINGE DRINKING, ALCOHOL OUTLET DENSITY, AND EARLY STARTED DRINKING IN THAILAND

Thailand had a higher prevalence of binge drinking (BD) behaviors which put them at risks of morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the spatial association of BD and its associated factors among the population of Thailand. This study was conducted using a data set of the National Statistical Office of Thailand and another data set of the Center for Alcohol Studies, Thailand, in 2017. A Moran's I, Local Indicators of Spatial Association (LISA), and Spatial regression were used to identify the spatial autocorrelation between alcohol outlet density, started drinking before 20 years of age, and BD among Thai people. According to the results, among 61,708 participants, the prevalence of BD was 11.47 per 1,000 population. There was global spatial autocorrelation between alcohol outlet density, start drinking before 20 years, and BD with the Moran's I values of 0.10 and 0.54, respectively. The LISA analysis identified significant positive spatial local autocorrelation of BD in the form of two high-high clusters for density of alcohol outlets and seven high-high clusters of started drinking before the age of 20. Started drinking before 20 years of age could predict binge drinking behaviors by 62.8 percent. There were spatial associations between alcohol outlet density and problems with alcoholic beverage control law enforcement that let the youngsters start drinking before 20. It is a general recommendation to strictly enforce the law in prohibited the underage from consuming alcohol, especially in the high density of alcohol outlets.

Examining Disparities in Excessive Alcohol Use Among Black and Hispanic Lesbian and Bisexual Women in the United States: An Intersectional Analysis

Sexual minority (i.e., lesbian, bisexual) women and racial-ethnic minority groups in the United States are disproportionately harmed by excessive alcohol use. This study examined disparities in excessive alcohol use at the intersection of race-ethnicity and sexual identity for non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic sexual minority women. Using data from the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, we compared the age-adjusted prevalence of binge drinking and heavy alcohol use among sexual minority women of color, sexual minority White women, and heterosexual women of color with that of White heterosexual women. The joint disparity is the difference in the prevalence of excessive alcohol use between sexual minority women of color and White heterosexual women. The excess intersectional disparity is the portion of the joint disparity that is due to being both a racial-ethnic minority and a sexual minority woman. Black and Hispanic sexual minority women reported the highest prevalence of binge drinking (45.4% and 43.4%, respectively), followed by White sexual minority women (35.7%) and White heterosexual women (23%). Black and Hispanic heterosexual women reported the lowest prevalence of binge drinking (20.8% and 20.2%, respectively). The joint disparity in binge drinking between Black sexual minority women and White heterosexual women was 21.2%, and the excess intersectional disparity was 17.7%. The joint disparity in binge drinking between Hispanic sexual minority women and White heterosexual women was 16.8%, and the excess intersectional disparity was 10.8%. Disparities in excessive alcohol consumption for Black and Hispanic sexual minority women, compared with White heterosexual women, were larger than what would be expected when considering differences by race or sexual identity individually.

High-Risk, but Hidden: Binge Drinking among Men Who Have Sex with Men and Transgender Women in Lima, Peru, 2012-2014

Background: Binge drinking (BD) is common in Peru, but may not be routinely detected by standard assessments of hazardous drinking. Objectives: We describe prevalence and risk behaviors of men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TW) in Peru who met criteria for BD as compared with those who met criteria for hazardous drinking. Methods: In a cross-sectional sample of MSM and TW from Lima (2012-2014), we calculated prevalence of BD (consuming ≥6 alcoholic drinks per occasion by AUDIT-3 criteria), conducted bivariate analyses of associations of BD with demographic and behavioral characteristics, and compared prevalence and behaviors of BD to those of hazardous drinkers (identified by AUDIT-10 criteria). Results: Of 1,520 MSM (n = 1,384) and TW (n = 137) with median age 27 years, 74.4% of MSM and 86.9% of TW met criteria for BD. Among MSM, BD was associated with a greater likelihood of using alcohol (41.6% vs. 13.8%; p < .01) or drugs (7.8% vs. 2.8%; p < .01) prior to a recent sexual contact. Among TW, BD was associated with greater frequency of alcohol use (44.9% vs. 11.1%; p < .01) or unprotected anal intercourse (58.8% vs. 33.3%; p = .04) during ≥1 of their three most recent sexual contacts. There was a higher prevalence of BD (75.5%) than hazardous drinking (53.2%) in our sample, with binge drinkers exhibiting similar sexual risk behaviors to hazardous drinkers. Conclusions: Binge drinking is common among MSM and TW in Lima, associated with risky sexual behavior, and may not be adequately captured by AUDIT-10 criteria.

At risk alcohol consumption with smoking by national background: Results from the Hispanic community health study/study of Latinos

IntroductionTobacco smoking and binge or excess drinking are unhealthy behaviors that frequently co-occur. Studies of Hispanics/Latinos have mostly been of Mexican Americans although there are substantial differences in smoking and drinking by heritage background. Associated with co-use by 5 subpopulations. MethodsCross-sectional data of 16,412 Hispanics/Latinos from Miami, the Bronx, Chicago and San Diego collected between 2008 and 2011 as part of the HCHS/SOL were analyzed. Smoking and alcohol consumption and demographic data were measured by self-report. Prevalence of smoking and alcohol consumption and co-use were reported. Logistic regression models examined the odds of co-use of smoking and binge or excess alcohol use by Hispanic/Latino background group. ResultsMen of Cuban (10.3%), Puerto Rican (8.9%), and Mexican (8.9%) background had the highest prevalence of co-use of smoking and binge drinking compared to men of Central American (6.1%) and Dominican (6.6%) background. Women of Dominican (16.4%) and Puerto Rican (19.7%) background had the highest prevalence of binge drinking compared to women of Central American (10%) and Cuban (8%) background and Puerto Rican (34.1%) and Cuban (21.8%) women were the most likely to report current smoking compared to women of Central American (8.3%) and Mexican (10.4%) background. Acculturation was not associated with co-use among men and women. Elevated depressive symptoms were positively associated with smoking and binge drinking among men, OR = 1.5 [1.2–2.0], and women, OR = 1.5 [1.1–2.2]. Puerto Rican women had increased odds of co-use of smoking and binge or excess drinking compared to Mexican American women, OR = 3.2 [1.5–6.6]. ConclusionsPuerto Rican and Dominican Latinas and Central American and South American men have a higher prevalence of co-use.

The Use of Alcohol and Knowledge of Cardiovascular Diseases among Ellisras Rural Children Aged 14–22 Years: Ellisras Longitudinal Study

The harm alcohol abuse does to physical and mental health is well established. The perception of cardiovascular disease risk factors and alcohol use requires attention. This study aims to investigate the association between alcohol usage and knowledge of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) risk factors among Ellisras rural adolescents and young adults aged 14–22 years. In this cross-sectional study a total of 1409 subjects (736 boys and 673 girls), aged 14–22 years, from the Ellisras Longitudinal Study, South Africa completed a validated alcohol use and CVDs knowledge questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association. The prevalence of alcohol intake increased with increasing age among girls (13.6% to 17.7%) and boys (10.3% to 16.9%) and reached a statistically significant difference (p < 0.024) at an older age category (20–22 years). There was a significant (p < 0.05) association between alcohol use and a positive response on the following knowledge statements: The fact that cardiovascular disease attacked all age groups and mostly elderly people (the odds ratio (OR) ranged between 0.5 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.33–0.74 and OR = 2.86 95% CI = 1.27–6.42). Medical doctors can help to diagnose somebody with cardiovascular diseases (OR ranged between 2.25 95% CI = 1.49–3.39 and OR = 0.75 95% CI = 0.65–0.87). The condition for cardiovascular diseases developed over a long period (OR ranged between 1.75 95% CI = 1.16–2.64 and OR = 2.23 95% CI = 1.34–4.07). The prevalence of alcohol use in Ellisras rural adolescents and young adults begins between the ages of 14 and 16 years and increases with age. Binge drinking was more evident on Fridays and Saturdays among the Ellisras rural adolescents and young adults with girls showing a significantly higher prevalence of binge drinking compared to boys on a Friday.

Prevalence of Binge Drinking Episodes Among Male and Female College Students (P18-008-19)

ObjectivesTo examine binge-drinking trends among undergraduate university students (18–24 years) over a five-year span. MethodsData were collected between 2012–17 through an ongoing, cross-sectional health survey at a midsize, northeastern university. Students (n = 2759; 69% female; 59% first-year) self-reported binge-drinking activity over the past 30 days through an online questionnaire. Binge drinking was defined as consumption of ≥4 or 5 drinks on a single occasion for females and males, respectively. Heavy binge drinking behavior was defined as ≥4 episodes of binge drinking in the past 30 days. Proportional differences were analyzed through chi-square analyses. ResultsBetween 2012–17, binge drinking prevalence ranged from 65.1–75.4% among men and 53.9–65.9% among women. Overall, men reported higher rates of binge drinking compared to females (73.2% vs. 59.2%, P < 0.01). Collectively, 35.7% reported heavy binge drinking in the past 30 days. More males report heavy binge drinking over the past 30 days compared to females (49.1% vs. 29.6%, P < 0.01). Upperclass students reported a higher prevalence of binge drinking in the past 30 days compared to first-year students (68.3 vs. 60.3%, P < 0.01). Between 2012–17, binge drinking prevalence ranged from 65.1–75.4% among men and 53.9–65.9% among women. Overall, men reported higher rates of binge drinking compared to females (73.2% vs. 59.2%, P < 0.01). Collectively, 35.7% reported heavy binge drinking in the past 30 days. More males report heavy binge drinking over the past 30 days compared to females (49.1% vs. 29.6%, P < 0.01). Upperclass students reported a higher prevalence of binge drinking in the past 30 days compared to first-year students (68.3 vs. 60.3%, P < 0.01). ConclusionsOur findings are consistent with other studies in showing high rates of binge drinking among college students, especially among male students. Monitoring binge-drinking patterns on college campuses assists administrators and health educators to address the severity of the problem to identify and monitor prevention and intervention efforts. Funding SourcesNew Hampshire Agriculture Experiment Station and the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Project 1010738.

High prevalence of binge drinking among people living with HIV in four African countries.

IntroductionExcessive alcohol consumption leads to unfavourable outcomes in people living with HIV (PLHIV), including reduced adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and engagement into care. However, there is limited information on alcohol consumption patterns among PLHIV in sub‐Saharan Africa.MethodsUsing a cross‐sectional approach, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT‐C) was administered to PLHIV attending HIV clinics in Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Senegal and Zambia (2013 to 2015). Hazardous drinking was defined as an AUDIT‐C score ≥4 for men or ≥3 for women, and binge drinking as ≥6 drinks at least once per month. The prevalence of binge drinking was compared to estimates from the general population using data from the World Health Organization. Factors associated with binge drinking among persons declaring any alcohol use in the past year were assessed using a logistic regression model to estimate odds ratio (OR) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsAmong 1824 PLHIV (median age 39 years, 62.8% female), the prevalence of hazardous alcohol use ranged from 0.9% in Senegal to 38.4% in Zambia. The prevalence of binge drinking ranged from 14.3% among drinkers in Senegal to 81.8% in Zambia, with higher estimates among PLHIV than in the general population. Male sex (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.6 to 3.7), tobacco use (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.9) and living in Zambia were associated with binge drinking.ConclusionsAlcohol consumption patterns varied widely across settings and binge drinking was more frequent in HIV‐positive individuals compared to the general population. Interventions to reduce excessive alcohol use are urgently needed to optimize adherence in the era of universal ART.

Intimate partner violence against young women: prevalence and associated factors in Europe

BackgroundThe magnitude of intimate partner violence (IPV) in young women is a source of increasing concern. The prevalence of IPV has not been analysed in Europe as a whole. The...

National trends in alcohol consumption in Mexico: results of the National Survey on Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Consumption 2016-2017

Introduction. Worldwide, binge drinking of alcohol has increased, especially among young people. In Mexico, various epidemiological sources allow us to account for the growth this pattern of consumption has had. Given this context, the Encuesta Nacional de Consumo de Drogas 2016-2017 (ENCODAT) shows the evolution in alcohol consumption. Objective. To determine the prevalence and national and regional trends, as well as state variations of alcohol consumption in the population aged 12 to 65. Method. The ENCODAT 2016-2017 is a random, probabilistic, and multi-stage study with national and state representation. The sample consisted of 56 877 people who answered a standardized questionnaire through ACASI (self-administered computer interviews) that collects information about the use of tobacco, alcohol, and medical and illegal drugs. Results. Binge drinking past month increased from 12.3% to 19.8% from 2011 to 2016. A similar situation occurs in daily use (from .8% to 2.9%) and weekly binge drinking (from 5.4% to 8.5%). The age of onset has remained stable since 2011 (16.6 years for men, 19.2 years for women in 2016). Meanwhile, 2.2% reported alcohol dependence. The states with the highest prevalence of binge drinking are Nuevo León (30.3%), Jalisco (27.7%) and, Coahuila (27.5%). Discussion and conclusion. The results show that alcohol use increased with respect to 2011, especially in women; data on treatment seeking indicate that women who use alcohol are also the least likely to seek help. Given this context, it is necessary to have specialized spaces that provide treatment in keeping with use-based needs and gender condition.

Associations between substance use and type of crime in prisoners with substance use problems - a focus on violence and fatal violence.

AimThe present study aimed to study the associations between substance use patterns and types of crimes in prisoners with substance use problems, and specifically whether substance use patterns were different in violent offenders.MethodsInterview data of prisoners with substance use problems (N=4,202, mean age 33.5 years, SD 9.8), derived from the Addiction Severity Index, were run against criminal register data on main types of crimes in the verdict.ResultsIn binary analyses, compared to those with acquisitive and drug crimes, violent offenders had lower prevalence of illicit drugs and homelessness, but higher prevalence of binge drinking, and higher prevalence of sedative use than clients sentenced with drug crimes. Clients with violent crime had lower prevalence of injecting drug use, compared to all other crimes. In logistic regression, binge drinking and sedatives were positively associated with violent crime (as opposed to non-violent crime), whereas heroin, amphetamine, cocaine, and injecting drug use were negatively associated with violent crime. Among violent offenders only, sedatives tended to be associated with fatal violence (p=0.06), whereas amphetamine, homelessness, age, and (marginally significant, p=0.05) heroin were negatively associated with fatal violence, as opposed to non-fatal violence.ConclusionTreatment and risk assessment in violent perpetrators with substance use may need to address sedatives and alcohol specifically. Limitations of the study are due to self-reported and cross-sectional data and because a large majority of the prison sample studied here are men.

Prevalence of binge drinking during pregnancy by country and World Health Organization region: Systematic review and meta-analysis

The objective was to obtain the first ever estimates of the prevalence of binge drinking (defined as four or more standard drinks per occasion) during pregnancy among the general population by country and World Health Organization region. A comprehensive systematic literature search was conducted, followed by country-specific random-effects meta-analyses for those countries with two or more empirical studies. For the remaining countries, the prevalence was predicted via a multilevel fractional response regression model, using country-specific indicators. Regional averages were then estimated. Lastly, the proportion of pregnant women who binge drank during pregnancy out of all women who used any amount of alcohol during pregnancy was estimated for each country. The African Region was estimated to have the highest prevalence of binge drinking during pregnancy, while the Western Pacific Region had the lowest estimated prevalence. The findings indicate that a large portion of pregnancies that are alcohol exposed are being exposed to the most detrimental pattern of drinking – binge drinking.

The prevalence of binge drinking among primary care residents

ABSTRACTBackground: Over one quarter of American adults binge drink, resulting in significant alcohol-related morbidity and mortality. Although brief interventions can decrease patients' alcohol use, many physicians in training do not provide this service. This study examines the prevalence of binge drinking among primary care residents, and the association of resident drinking behaviors with addressing patients' hazardous alcohol use. Methods: Between July 2013 and August 2014, the authors surveyed all trainees in 6 primary care residency programs. The survey assessed self-reported frequency of binge drinking, confidence working with hazardous drinkers, and the performance of brief interventions when hazardous drinking was detected in patients. Results: 221 of 246 residents completed the survey (response rate 89.8%). Half of residents (109/221) reported at least one episode of binge drinking in the prior year, and 18% (39/221) reported binge drinking at least once a month. In multivariable analysis, monthly binge drinking was associated with male gender (OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.1–5.4) and year of training (OR 0.25 for Year 3 vs. Year 1, 95% CI 0.07–0.90). Few residents felt confident they could help patients cut down or quit alcohol, regardless of personal binge drinking history (19% for those who binged monthly, 24% for those who binged 1–11 times a year, and 27% for those who never binged, p for trend = 0.31). Performance of brief interventions did not vary by personal binge drinking history. Conclusions: Binge drinking is common among primary care residents. In addition to training residents to effectively intervene with hazardous drinkers, residency programs should address the high prevalence of binge drinking by their physicians in training.

Health and behavioral factors associated with binge drinking among university students in nine ASEAN countries

BackgroundHeavy drinking among university students has been globally recognized as a major public health burden. In the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, studies on this issue have been scant, country-specific and in different time frames. The aim of this study was to identify social and behavioral factors associated with binge drinking among university students in nine ASEAN countries.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in 2015 among 8809 undergraduate university students from 13 universities in Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam using self-administered questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the associated factors.ResultsMore than half (62.3%) of the study sample were female with a mean age of 20.5 (SD = 2.0) years. Of total, 12.8% were infrequent (<once per month) and 6.4% frequent (≥ once per month) binge drinkers. After adjustment, among males, higher binge drinking remained significantly associated with being in older age groups, living with parents or guardians, lower level of non-organized religious activity, lack of knowledge on alcohol-heart disease relationship, weak beliefs in the importance of limiting alcohol use, poor subjective health status, lower level of life satisfaction, tobacco and illicit drug use, depressive symptoms and high level physical activity. Among females, higher prevalence of binge drinking remained significantly associated with being in the older age groups, poorer family background, living in an upper-middle- or high-income country, lower level of non-organized religious activity, lack of knowledge on alcohol-heart disease relationship, lack of knowledge on alcohol-high blood pressure relationship, weak beliefs in the importance of limiting alcohol use, lower level of life satisfaction, use of other substances such as tobacco and illicit drug, depressive symptoms and high level of physical activity.ConclusionsFindings from this study indicate a need for devising or refining university health promotion programs that integrate binge drinking, other substance use, co-occurring addictive behaviors and health beliefs in the respective countries.

Differences in alcohol use patterns between adolescent Asian American ethnic groups: Representative estimates from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 2002–2013

ObjectiveStudies have suggested that alcohol use prevalence is increasing among Asian American adolescents and there may be significant differences between specific adolescent Asian American ethnicities. MethodData from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2002–2013) were used to estimate prevalence of alcohol use (lifetime, past-month, past-year) and problem (binge drinking, alcohol use disorder [AUD], and early initiation of use) outcomes among adolescent Asian American ethnicities. ResultsFilipino Americans had the highest prevalence of lifetime (29.3%) and past-month (10.3%) use; Korean Americans had the highest prevalence of past-year use (22.7%). Asian Indian Americans had the lowest prevalence of all three use indicators: 14.6%, 11.9%, and 4.9% for lifetime, past-year, and past-month, respectively. Korean Americans had the highest prevalence of binge drinking (5.4%), Filipino Americans had the highest prevalence of AUD (3.5%), and Vietnamese Americans had the highest prevalence of early initiation of use (13.5%). Asian Indian Americans had the lowest prevalence for all three alcohol problem indicators: 2.6%, 1.0%, and 4.9% for binge drinking, AUD, and early initiation of use, respectively. ConclusionsPrevalence estimates of alcohol outcomes among Korean, Japanese, and Filipino American adolescents were high and similar to other racial groups that are often considered higher risk racial groups. Estimates among large subgroups with low alcohol use prevalence, Chinese and Asian Indian Americans, may mask high rates among other Asian ethnicities when alcohol use estimates are presented among Asians overall. When feasible, researchers should present alcohol use estimates disaggregated by specific Asian American ethnicities and investigate differences in risk factors across groups.

How accurate is our misinformation? A randomized comparison of four survey interview methods to measure risk behavior among young adults in the Dominican Republic

ObjectiveTo identify the most effective survey interview method for measuring risk behavior among young adults in the Dominican Republic. Methods1200 young adults were randomized to one of four different survey interview methods: two interviewer-assisted methods [face-to-face interview (FTFI), and computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI)], and two self-administered methods [self-administered interview (SAI), and audio computer-assisted, self-administered interview (ACASI)]. Youth were asked about a wide range of youth-specific risk behaviors, including violence, substance use, as well as sexual and reproductive health. Quality of data collected was examined by looking at how the survey was administered, including identifying two sources of errors that typically threaten data quality11This study assumes that bias does not change with sample size. In order to increase the sample size, the data collection period was extended, leaving everything else unchanged. It is, therefore, assumed that the decreasing effects of the learning curve are negligible.: (i) errors at the individual level with regards to survey methodology performance and cognitive difficulties [measured with the Response Consistency Index (RCI)]; and (ii) errors at the aggregate level (how desirability bias, interviewer gender, and interview privacy settings affect responses). ResultsNo statistically significant differences in participant non-response rates were found at the individual level across all survey interview methods. At the individual question level, self-completion methods generated higher non-response and error rates than assisted methods. The SAI method showed the poorest performance of all four methods in terms of non-response rate (1.6%22Percentage of data with non-response values at the question level.) and RCI (83.0%).At the aggregate level, the prevalence of several key risk indicators was statistically significant between methods. Using means-adjustment for covariates (μ), sexual and reproductive health-related indicators were found to have statistically significant differences among methods. Interviewer-assisted methods reported higher prevalence compared to self-administered methods. For example, when interviewer-assisted FTFI was administered, higher prevalence was reported for indicators, such as Ever Had Sex (for both genders), Safe Casual Sex (for males), and Transactional Sex (for males) than self-administered ACASI methods. On the contrary, when a SAI self-administered method was applied, results showed higher prevalence rates of concurrency among women, (e.g., sexual activity with multiple partners that overlap in time).The study also suggests that there were differences in survey interview methods used when looking at drug and alcohol use indicators. The direction of bias differed between drug use and alcohol consumption indicators. Respondents using ACASI self-administered methods had a higher Drug Use prevalence. However, FTFI reported a higher prevalence of Binge Drinking among female participants, as compared to ACASI.Additionally, the research team found a strong interaction with interviewer gender. In FTFI, affirmative responses to Sex with Same Gender questions were higher among men interviewed by women, than among men interviewed by men. The gender of the interviewer also seems to generate socially desirable response in violence risk-related indicators. That is the case for Victimization among males where the use of SAI increases the prevalence.Furthermore, this study suggests that whenever privacy during an interview was recorded as insufficient, women tended to report sexual initiation at almost a year younger than when responding with privacy. ConclusionsThe study's findings suggest that the degree to which a specific method improves the reporting of a particular risk behavior or set of behaviors is likely to be population specific. The study's results support the researchers’ initial hypothesis that higher prevalence estimates may be less valid than lower estimates in the Dominican Republic context, especially where some risk behaviors, like sexual activity, are normative and socially acceptable. More specifically, use of interviewer-assisted methods appears to significantly increase the reporting of socially-accepted behaviors, such as that both male and female populations over-report sensitive questions. Similarly, the level of privacy during the interview and interviewer’s gender may have an important effect on responses, and this effect depends on the chosen survey interview method.

Male Eating Disorder Symptom Patterns and Health Correlates From 13 to 26 Years of Age

Research on the manifestations and health correlates of eating disorder symptoms among males is lacking. This study identified patterns of appearance concerns and eating disorder behaviors from adolescence through young adulthood and their health correlates. Participants were 7,067 males from the prospective Growing Up Today Study. Surveys from 1999 to 2007 (spanning ages 13-26 years) provided repeated measures data on muscularity and leanness concerns, eating disorder behaviors (purging, overeating, binge eating, use of muscle-building products), and health correlates (obesity, non-marijuana drug use, binge drinking, and depressive symptoms). Latent class analyses of observations at ages 13 to 15, 16 to 18, 19 to 22, and 23 to 26 years identified 1 large Asymptomatic class and 4 symptomatic patterns: Body Image Disturbance (high appearance concerns, low eating disorder behaviors; 1.0%-6.0% per age period); Binge Eating/Purging (binge eating and purging, useofmuscle-building products, low appearance concerns; 0.1%-2.5%); Mostly Asymptomatic (low levels of muscularity concern, product use, and overeating; 3.5%-5.0%); and Muscularity Concerns (high muscularity concerns and use of products; 0.6%-1.0%). The Body Image Disturbance class was associated with high estimated prevalence of depressive symptoms. Males in the Binge Eating/Purging and Muscularity Concerns classes had high prevalence of binge drinking and drug use. Despite exhibiting modestly greater appearance concerns and eating disorder behaviors than the Asymptomatic class, being in the Mostly Asymptomatic class was prospectively associated with adverse health outcomes. Results underscore the importance of measuring concerns about leanness, muscularity, and use of muscle-building products when assessing eating disorder presentations among males in research and clinical settings.