Predictors Of Alcohol Consumption Research Articles

Professional and Social Statuses as Predictors of Alcohol Consumption by Working Russians

The paper analyses alcohol consumption patterns among working residents of Russia, depending on their professional and social statuses, using statistical methods. The study is based on data from the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Survey of the National Research University Higher School of Economics for the period of 2013–2019. Sampling included working women aged 16 to 55 and men aged 16 to 60.The introductory part of the article covers the main trends in alcohol consumption among working Russians with different professional and social statuses. The main part of the article presents the results of an empirical study of the statistical relationship between the characteristics of an employee's professional and social statuses and indicators characterizing the probability and volume of consumption of specific alcoholic beverages (beer, wine, vodka, etc.) and alcohol in general. An econometric analysis of the relationships was carried out based on a random effect panel logistic model and an individual random effect Tobin model. Statistical estimates were made separately for men and women. The regression analysis helped the authors find an increase in the probability of consuming alcohol in general, as well as wine and spirits (cognac, whiskey, liqueurs) for workers with the highest professional status (legislators; high-ranking officials; senior and mid-level executives), as well as women with mid-level qualifications compared to unskilled workers. At the same time, the authors recognized a downward trend in the probability of vodka consumption for the respondents of both gender groups with the growth of their professional status (most pronounced for women). In addition, with an increase in the professional status of an individual, there was a trend towards a decrease in the volume of alcohol consumption in general and by specific beverages except for wine. The volume of wine consumption by men from the categories of "clerks and workers in trade and services" and "mid-level professionals; officials" exceeded the value of the corresponding indicator for unskilled workers. An analysis of the statistical relationship between the social status of working Russians and their predisposition to consume alcoholic beverages revealed an increase in the probability of consumption of selected alcoholic beverages among representatives of both gender groups and the probability of alcohol consumption in general (among men) with an increase in the social status of an individual with more moderate consumption compared to workers with lower social status (for men).According to the authors, the results of this study can be relevant to the elaboration of specific alcohol policy measures aimed at reducing alcohol consumption among the employed population of our country.

Shame-and-guilt-proneness, interpersonal sensitivity, and alcohol: Results from a moderated mediation

BackgroundShame-proneness has been consistently associated with more problematic alcohol outcomes, and guilt-proneness has been associated with fewer. The aim of this study was to determine if the associations of shame-and-guilt-proneness with alcohol outcomes vary as a function of interpersonal sensitivity. MethodA longitudinal study examined shame-proneness and guilt-proneness as predictors of alcohol consumption and related problems one month later. This research was conducted at a large public university in the United States. ResultsParticipants (N=414) were heavy-drinking college students (51% female) with a mean age of 21.76 (SD=2.02) who consumed an average of 12.13 (SD=8.81) standard drinks per week. Shame-proneness, but not guilt-proneness, was directly associated with increased drinking and indirectly associated with increased problems. The indirect effects of shame on problems through drinking were stronger at higher levels of interpersonal sensitivity. ConclusionsResults suggest that shame-proneness may increase alcohol consumption and subsequent problems among those high in interpersonal sensitivity. Alcohol may be used as a means to withdraw from social threats that are amplified by interpersonal sensitivity.

Políticas públicas como factor protector del consumo de alcohol en universitarios mexicanos

IntroductionIn environments where public policies regulating alcohol consumption are stricter, alcohol consumption decreases, by virtue of reduced availability, marketing, and price regulation of alcoholic beverages. ObjectiveTo determine the relationship and effect of the perception of policies to reduce alcohol-related problems with alcohol consumption and the four prevalence of alcohol consumption in young Mexican university students. MethodologyA descriptive, correlational and predictive study with a sample of 367 students from a public university in the state of Tabasco, Mexico, selected by stratified random probability sampling. A Personal Data and Prevalence of Alcohol Consumption Questionnaire, the Scale of Support for Public Policies to Reduce Problems Associated with Alcohol and the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT) were used. The study adhered to the provisions of the Regulations of the General Health Law on Research. ResultsThe general index of perception of public policies was negatively and significantly related (rs=−.34, P<.001) with alcohol consumption and with the three types of consumption, low risk, dependent and harmful. Perception of harm reduction public policy (B=−.356, P<.001) was identified as a predictor of alcohol consumption in college youth. The general index of perception of public policies has a protective effect on current and instantaneous prevalence (OR=.98), likewise the pricing policy has a protective effect on the four prevalence of alcohol consumption. ConclusionThe general perception of public policy, as well as the perception of harm reduction policies are predictor of alcohol consumption in young university students, therefore, these should be clear and widely known by this population, to facilitate compliance and have the expected effect.

A Mediation Model of Self-Efficacy and Depression between Burnout and Alcohol Consumption among Health Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic

To verify the role played by burnout in the prediction of alcohol consumption, considering the integration of the theory of job demands-resources (JD-R) and sociocognitive theory (SCT), we developed an analytical model in which self-efficacy and depression act as mediators of this relationship. A cross-sectional online survey was taken by 3856 workers enrolled in various public agencies of the Mexican Health Ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico. The results indicate that of the three dimensions of burnout, only depersonalization predicts alcohol consumption; however, self-efficacy regulates the effect of emotional exhaustion and achievement dissatisfaction on alcohol consumption. Similarly, the three components of burnout have indirect effects through depression, suggesting that depression and self-efficacy mediate the relationship between burnout and alcohol consumption. Burnout alone cannot explain alcohol consumption, but when depression is present, burnout increases the predisposition to consume alcohol; when self-efficacy is present, the probability of alcohol consumption decreases.

Brief intervention and the Theory of Planned Behavior: A randomized controlled trial among adolescents

Brief Intervention (BI) is a successful tool for reducing adolescent drinking, although little is known about how it works to change behavior. Components of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) predict alcohol consumption in this population; thus, modifying them through BI could be beneficial. This study aimed to determine if BI for alcohol drinking among adolescents affects the TPB components’, considering readiness to change. Participants were 102 Argentinean high school students (age M = 15.08, SD = 1.38, 85% male). We compared two groups: 1) evaluation about alcohol consumption, TPB’s components and readiness to change 2) same evaluation plus a BI. After three months, the BI group showed a significant reduction in intention (β =-1.21; p&lt;.05) and perceived social norms (β =-2.79; p&lt;.01). However, readiness to change did not predict any changes in TPB’s components. This study contributes to understanding BI’s mechanisms of change and closing the evidence gap from Latin America.

Alcohol consumption after pregnancy awareness and the additive effect of pregnancy-related anxiety and child abuse

This study examined whether pregnant women alter their alcohol consumption upon pregnancy awareness and any additive effect of a maternal history of child abuse and pregnancy-related anxiety in predicting antenatal alcohol consumption. Pregnant women (N = 548, M = 31.44, SD = 4.58) completed an online survey consisting of the Pregnancy-related Anxiety Scale, Adverse Childhood Experience Questionnaire, questions on alcohol consumption and demographics. The Wilcoxon test examined difference scores between pre-pregnancy awareness and post-awareness drinking. More women reduced or ceased drinking after pregnancy awareness (M = 0.15, SD = 1.03) than before pregnancy recognition (M = 3.12, SD = 3.91). Only two women increased their alcohol consumption, with 140 reporting no change. In the hierarchical regression analysis, child abuse was not significant in the model, whereas pregnancy-related anxiety predicted alcohol consumption, with pre-pregnancy drinking the strongest predictor. There was no significant interaction effect between pregnancy-related anxiety and child abuse. While limited by a cross-sectional design and single questions to assess alcohol intake, our findings are consistent with extant literature. Findings related to child abuse were not significant, and likely due to low prevalence in the sample, Despite this, we further established that pregnancy-related anxiety remains a significant predictor of antenatal drinking regardless of how much alcohol a woman may consume pre-pregnancy. This relationship may be explained by drinking used to cope with pregnancy-related anxieties. While current guidelines recommend alcohol screening, many women may not accurately report their alcohol intake screening for pregnancy-related anxiety may provide an avenue to identify women more at risk of drinking during pregnancy.

Smoking, alcohol consumption, and frailty: A Mendelian randomization study.

Background: Tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption have been associated with frailty in observational studies. We sought to examine whether these associations reflect causality using the two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) design. Methods: We used summary genome-wide association statistics for smoking initiation (N = 2,669,029), alcohol consumption (N = 2,428,851), and the frailty index (FI, N = 175,226) in participants of European ancestry. Both univariable and multivariable MR were performed to comprehensively evaluate the independent effects of smoking and alcohol consumption on the FI, accompanied by multiple sensitivity analyses. Results were verified using lifetime smoking and alcohol use disorder. Reverse direction MR was undertaken to assess the potential for reverse causation. Results: Genetic predisposition to smoking initiation was significantly associated with increased FI (univariable MR: β = 0.345; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.316 to 0.374; p = 1.36E-113; multivariable MR: β = 0.219; 95% CI = 0.197 to 0.241; p = 2.44E-83). Genetically predicted alcohol consumption showed a suggestive association with the FI (univariable MR: β = -0.090; 95% CI = -0.151 to -0.029; p = 0.003; multivariable MR β = -0.153; 95% CI = -0.212 to -0.094; p = 2.03E-07), with inconsistent results in sensitivity analyses. In complementary analysis, genetic predicted lifetime smoking, but not alcohol use disorder was associated with the FI. There is no convincing evidence for reverse causation. Conclusion: The present MR study supported smoking as a causal risk factor of frailty. Further research is warranted to investigate whether alcohol consumption has a causal role in frailty.

Smoking, alcohol consumption, and 24 gastrointestinal diseases: Mendelian randomization analysis.

Whether the positive associations of smoking and alcohol consumption with gastrointestinal diseases are causal is uncertain. We conducted this Mendelian randomization (MR) to comprehensively examine associations of smoking and alcohol consumption with common gastrointestinal diseases. Genetic variants associated with smoking initiation and alcohol consumption at the genome-wide significance level were selected as instrumental variables. Genetic associations with 24 gastrointestinal diseases were obtained from the UK Biobank, FinnGen study, and other large consortia. Univariable and multivariable MR analyses were conducted to estimate the overall and independent MR associations after mutual adjustment for genetic liability to smoking and alcohol consumption. Genetic predisposition to smoking initiation was associated with increased risk of 20 of 24 gastrointestinal diseases, including 7 upper gastrointestinal diseases (gastroesophageal reflux, esophageal cancer, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, acute gastritis, chronic gastritis, and gastric cancer), 4 lower gastrointestinal diseases (irritable bowel syndrome, diverticular disease, Crohn's disease, and ulcerative colitis), 8 hepatobiliary and pancreatic diseases (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis, liver cancer, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, and acute and chronic pancreatitis), and acute appendicitis. Fifteen out of 20 associations persisted after adjusting for genetically predicted alcohol consumption. Genetically predicted higher alcohol consumption was associated with increased risk of duodenal ulcer, alcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis, and chronic pancreatitis; however, the association for duodenal ulcer did not remain statistically significant after adjustment for genetic predisposition to smoking initiation. This study provides MR evidence supporting causal associations of smoking with a broad range of gastrointestinal diseases, whereas alcohol consumption was associated with only a few gastrointestinal diseases. The Natural Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Zhejiang Province; National Natural Science Foundation of China; Key Project of Research and Development Plan of Hunan Province; the Swedish Heart Lung Foundation; the Swedish Research Council; the Swedish Cancer Society.

Validation of the revised Alcohol Expectancy Task [rAET

Alcohol expectancies are well-established determinants of alcohol consumption. Traditionally, expectancies were assessed using self-report questionnaires. However, researchers have increasingly begun to explore the use of pictographic assessments, for example, the revised Alcohol Expectancy Task [rAET]. The current research aimed to examine the factor structure of the task in relation to the hypothesised expectancy dimensions, participants' endorsement of these dimensions, and whether rAET scores are associated with drinking patterns. The rAET presents participants with several illustrated scenarios in which people are displaying emotions, following the Circumplex Model of Affect. For each scenario, participants select which type of drink the person presented in the illustration was most likely to have drunk. The rAET was administered online to a convenience sample (n = 1,192, female: 50.7%, Mage = 36.8, SD = 13.7). The confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated adequate fit of the hypothesised four-factor model. Mean comparisons demonstrated that positive expectancies were more pronounced than negative expectancies, and a distinction between arousal and sedation expectancies was found. Results of a structural equation model found that positive sedation and positive arousal were related to high drinking frequency. There were no links between usual quantity of alcohol use or binge drinking. It appears that the rAET can be successfully used to assess alcohol expectancies in terms of the emotions that are expected to occur from alcohol consumption. Future research is needed to establish the tool's assessment properties in different settings, and its utility in predicting alcohol consumption in different age groups, particularly children and young adolescents. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Predicting Alcohol Consumption Patterns for Individuals with a User-Friendly Parsimonious Statistical Model.

Many studies on the relationship between alcohol and health outcome focus primarily on average consumption over time and do not consider how heavy per-occasion drinking may influence apparent relationships. Improved methods concerning the most recent drinking occasion are essential to inform the extent of alcohol-related health problems. We aimed to develop a user-friendly and readily replicable computational model that predicts: (i) an individual's probability of consuming alcohol ≥2, 3, 4… drinks; and (ii) the total number of days during which consumption is ≥2, 3, 4… drinks over a specified period. Data from the 2010 and 2011 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) were used to develop and validate the model. Predictors used in model development were age, gender, usual number of drinks consumed per day, and number of drinking days in the past 30 days. Main outcomes were number of drinks consumed on the last drinking occasion in the past 30 days, and number of days of risky levels of consumption. The area under ROC curves ranged between 0.86 and 0.91 when predicting the number of drinks consumed. Coefficients were very close to 1 for all outcomes, indicating closeness between the predicted and observed values. This straightforward modelling approach can be easily adopted by public health behavioral studies.

Influencia de las actitudes al consumo de alcohol en el consumo de alcohol y tabaco en universitarios del Ecuador: un modelo explicativo con SEM

Objective: Establish an explanatory model through latent variables analysis of tobacco consumption based on al- cohol consumption and alcohol consumption based on attitudes towards consumption in a sample of university students in Ecuador. Method: Descriptive correlational and explanatory design using SEM (Structural Equation Mo- deling) techniques. Participants: 546 students (69.2% women) aged between 17 and 41 years old (M= 21.3 years old; SD= 2.6), from four universities (45.1% public ones) in two cities of Ecuador. Results: The predominance of alcohol consumption is high; the prevalence of tobacco consumption is low, and attitudes towards alcohol consumption are ambivalent. Alcohol attitudes predict alcohol consumption (R2= .57) and alcohol consumption predicts tobacco consumption (R2= .26). Attitudes and consumption provide an explanatory model for tobacco consumption with ꭓ2= 662.59; p&lt; .001; df= 480; ꭓ2/gl= 1.4; CFI= .95; TLI= .94; SRMR= .049; RMSEA= .026 [.021 - .031]. Conclusions: The study of attitudes and consumption behaviors are important for a better understanding about alcohol and tobacco consumption in university students.

Prospective prediction of alcohol consumption among a Tunisian sample of adolescents

Abstract Background During adolescence, alcohol consumption represents a new experience with the advantage of facilitating the integration of a peer group. The global overall prevalence of this risk behavior among the 15-19 years old was over 25% in 2018. However, this prevalence varies between countries. Objectives To determine the incidence and the predictors of alcohol consumption among high school students in Sousse, Tunisia between 2017/2018 and 2018/2019. Methods A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in four high schools in the governorate of Sousse during the 2018-2019 school year. Pre-trained medical doctors used an anonymous self-administered questionnaire to collect data about socio-demographic and educational features, alcohol consumption, tobacco use, illicit substances use and emotional disorders. Results Participants accounted for 404. Their average age was 16.4 (±1.1) years. Females represented 68%. The prevalence of alcohol consumption in 2017/2018 was 5.9% while the cumulative incidence during the 2018/2019 school year was 3.5%. Among males, this incidence was of 11.9%. Among females, it was of 3% (p = 0.020). Illicit substance use among friends was the main predictor of becoming alcohol consumer with an adjusted odds ratio of 6.4 (95% CI: 1.9-21.3) on the other hand, having an anxiety trouble predicted less this risk behavior (adjusted odds ratio =0.2 95% CI: 0.1-0.8). Conclusions Alcohol consumption is becoming more and more common among the adolescents of Sousse especially among males. The current national strategy against substances use in schools should be reinforced. Implementation of a social skills training among adolescents to improve assertiveness is essential. Key messages • Alcohol consumption has an upword trend among the adolescents of Sousse. • The current prevention programs targetting adolescents in Tunisia should be revised and integrate a comprehensive and multisectoral program.

Meaning in life: investigating protective and risk factors for harmful alcohol consumption

Background Individuals with greater meaning in life tend to consume less alcohol. However, research elucidating pathways through which meaning in life influences consumption is lacking. Behavioral economic theories posit that distortions in valuation processes, whilst negative reinforcement models posit that avoidance or regulation of negative internal states, are central in decisions to consume alcohol. Method Pre-registered, cross-sectional design. Five hundred forty-six regular alcohol consumers (≥18 years old) completed an online questionnaire which asked about alcohol use, meaning in life, alcohol-free reinforcement, alcohol value, depressive symptoms, and drinking to cope motives. Results Presence of meaning had a significant negative association with AUDIT scores (β = −.26, p < .001), but neither search for meaning nor alcohol-free reinforcement were significant predictors (ps > .53). Subsequent path analyses revealed a significant indirect effect of presence of meaning on AUDIT scores through lower alcohol value (95% CI = −.17 to −.08) and drinking to cope (95% CI = −.07 to −.00), and a serial mediation effect through both lower depressive symptoms and drinking to cope (95% CI = −.09 to −.04). Although search for meaning was not a direct predictor of AUDIT scores, there was a significant indirect effect through greater drinking to cope (95% CI = .01 to .06) and a serial mediation effect through both greater depressive symptoms and drinking to cope (95% CI = .01 to .04). Conclusions Meaning in life subscales predict alcohol consumption indirectly via individual differences in alcohol value, depressive symptoms, and drinking to cope.

Development of the motivational thought frequency scale for alcohol abstinence (MTF-A).

For most treatment-seeking patients with severe Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), abstinence is the clinically indicated goal. Existing AUD motivation scales are non-specific about treatment consumption goals, which limit their effectiveness. Desires and mental imagery are relevant in the motivation for AUD treatment engagement. The Motivational Thought Frequency Scale for an abstinence goal (MTF-A) was adapted from the MTF for controlled drinking (MTF-CD). This study psychometrically evaluated the MTF-A in an alcohol-dependent sample engaged in treatment with a goal of abstinence. To enhance the clinical utility of the scale, a secondary aim was to evaluate a psychometrically equivalent short version of the MTF-A. A sample N of 329 treatment-seeking patients with AUD (mean age of 44.44 years, SD=11.89 years, 72% male) who were undertaking a cognitive behavioral treatment (CBT) program for abstinence completed the Motivational Thought Frequency Scale for Abstinence (MTF-A) and the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ). The MTF-A measured motivation for abstinence through four factors: intensity, self-efficacy imagery, incentives imagery, and availability. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were conducted to examine factor structure and model fit. Cronbach's alpha assessed internal consistency. Predictive validity was determined by logistic regression predicting first-session treatment non-attendance and alcohol consumption between baseline assessment andcommencement of treatment, controlling for potential confounds. A four-factor structure provided the best fit for the MTF-A, compared with one- and three-factor models. A shortened 9-item MTF-A scale (S-MTF-A) provided better fit than the 13-item MTF-A scale. Both MTF-A and S-MTF-A displayed good internal consistency. Although both MTF-A and S-MTF-A successfully predicted first-session treatment non-attendance, neither predicted alcohol consumption between the baseline assessment and commencement of treatment. The model fit of the four-factor, 9-item S-MTF-A was superior to the original 13-item MTF-A. Both scales were predictive of participation of AUD treatment. Desires and mental imagery play an important role in AUD treatment motivation.

Alcohol consumption and colorectal cancer risk: A mendelian randomization study.

Background: Previous observational studies have provided inconsistent evidence for the association between alcohol consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). To assess this potential causal effect, we performed bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Methods: We selected six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables (IVs) associated with alcohol consumption (ever versus never drinker) and two SNPs representing the number of drinks per week from a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of the Japanese population. Summary data for CRC were obtained from a GWAS meta-analysis in the Japanese population of 6,692 CRC cases and 27,178 controls. MR analysis was performed by the inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method primarily, supplemented with several sensitivity methods including the weighted median method, maximum likelihood method, MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier (MR-PRESSO) test, MR-Egger regression, Causal Analysis Using Summary Effect estimates (CAUSE) method, as well as constrained maximum likelihood and model averaging and Bayesian information criterion (cML-MA-BIC) method. Multivariable Mendelian randomization (MMR) analyses were used to adjust for potential confounders. Reverse MR analyses were also performed to assess the potential causal effect of CRC on alcohol consumption. Results: Genetically predicted alcohol consumption (ever versus never drinker) was positively associated with the risk of CRC (odds ratio (OR) = 1.08, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05–1.12, p = 1.51 × 10–5 by IVW). The number of alcoholic drinks per week was also associated with an increased risk of CRC (OR = 1.39, 95%CI: 1.27–1.52, p = 5.29 × 10–13 by IVW). Sensitivity analysis yielded similar results. Reverse MR analyses found no evidence that CRC contributes to either ever drinkers (OR = 1.00, 95%CI: 0.99–1.00, p = 0.339 by IVW) or added number of drinks per week (OR = 1.01, 95%CI: 0.98–1.05, p = 0.545 by IVW). Conclusion: Our study suggested a potential causal association between alcohol consumption and the risk of CRC among Asians. Reducing drinking may be beneficial to the prevention and management of CRC.

Genetically Predicted Smoking and Alcohol Consumption and Functional Outcome After Ischemic Stroke.

Smoking and alcohol consumption have been adversely associated with poststroke outcome in traditional epidemiologic studies. The present study explored the association of genetically predicted smoking and alcohol consumption on poststroke outcomes using the mendelian randomization (MR) framework. Instrumental variables for smoking initiation and alcohol consumption were selected from a genome-wide association study data of European ancestry individuals. Summary-level data for functional outcome after ischemic stroke were obtained from the Genetics of Ischemic Stroke Functional Outcome network study of European ancestry patients. The univariable and multivariable inverse-variance weighted MR methods were performed to obtain the causal estimates. The weighted median, MR-robust adjusted profile score, and MR-Egger regression approaches were adopted as sensitivity analyses. Q and I 2 statistics were used to evaluate heterogeneity in MR estimates across variants. Genetic predisposition to smoking initiation was associated with worse functional outcome after ischemic stroke in univariable inverse-variance weighted MR analysis (odds ratio [OR] 1.48; 95% CI 1.08-2.01, p = 0.013). This association remained significant when adjusting for genetically predicted alcohol consumption in multivariable MR analyses (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.05-2.32, p = 0.027). Genetically predicted alcohol consumption was not associated with functional outcome after ischemic stroke (p > 0.05). Sensitivity analyses with other approaches and in analyses restricted to models without adjustment for baseline stroke severity produced similar results, and no evidence of heterogeneity in MR estimates between variants was detected (p > 0.05). Our results provide genetic support for a causal association of smoking with worse functional outcome after ischemic stroke and have important implications for poststroke recovery. Smoking cessation and avoidance should be promoted in patients with ischemic stroke.

Alcohol Price Floors and Externalities: The Case of Fatal Road Crashes

AbstractIn May 2018, Scotland introduced a minimum unit price on alcohol. We examine the impact of this policy on traffic fatalities and drunk driving accidents. Using administrative data on the universe of vehicle collisions in Britain and a range of quasi‐experimental modeling approaches, we do not find that the policy had an effect on road crash deaths and drunk driving collisions. The results are robust to several sensitivity exercises. There is no evidence of effect heterogeneity by income and other predictors of alcohol consumption or cross‐border effects. A brief discussion of the policy implications of our findings is provided.

Causal associations of alcohol consumption with cardiovascular diseases and all-cause mortality among Chinese males

The causal effects of moderate alcohol consumption on cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are continuously debated, especially on coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to explore the causal associations of alcohol consumption with CVDs and all-cause mortality among Chinese males. A prospective cohort study was conducted in 40,386 Chinese males, with 17,676 being genotyped for the rs671 variant in the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene. A Cox proportional hazards model was conducted to estimate the effects of self-reported alcohol consumption. Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was performed to explore the causality using rs671 as an instrumental variable. During the follow-up of 303,353 person-years, 2406 incident CVDs and 3195 all-cause mortalities were identified. J-shaped associations of self-reported alcohol consumption with incident CVD and all-cause mortality were observed, showing decreased risks for light (≤25g/d) and moderate drinkers (25-≤60g/d). However, MR analyses revealed a linear association of genetically predicted alcohol consumption with the incident CVD (P-trend=0.02), including both CAD (P-trend=0.03) and stroke (P-trend=0.02). The HRs (95% CIs) for incident CVD across increasing tertiles of genetically predicted alcohol consumption were 1 (reference), 1.18 (1.01, 1.38), and 1.22 (1.03, 1.46). After excluding heavy drinkers, the risk of incident CVD and all-cause mortality was increased by 27% and 20% per standard drink increment of genetically predicted alcohol consumption, respectively. Our analyses extend the evidence of the harmful effect of alcohol consumption to total CVD (including CAD) and all-cause mortality, highlighting the potential health benefits of lowering alcohol consumption, even among light-to-moderate male drinkers.

Alcohol consumption and tobacco exposure among pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria

BackgroundAlcohol consumption and tobacco exposure during pregnancy are hazardous behaviours which are increasing significantly in low and middle-income countries, including sub-Saharan Africa. However, they have received little attention in Nigeria’s maternal health research and services. The prevalence, pattern and predictors of alcohol consumption and tobacco exposure among pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria, were investigated.MethodsThis is a part of a prospective cohort study among pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria (Ibadan Pregnancy Cohort Study (IbPCS), which investigated the associations between maternal obesity, lifestyle characteristics and perinatal outcomes in Ibadan. Alcohol consumption and tobacco exposure of 1745 pregnant women were assessed during enrollment by self-reports using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses examined the associations at a 5% level of statistical significance.ResultsThe prevalence of pre-pregnancy alcohol consumption and alcohol consumption during pregnancy were 551 (31.7%) and 222 (12.7%), respectively, i.e. (one in every eight pregnancies is exposed to alcohol). Palm wine (52%) and beer (12%) were the most common alcohol consumed among pregnant women. The predictors of alcohol consumption during were pre-pregnancy alcohol use [AOR = 10.72, 95% CI: 6.88–16.70) and religion i.e. Muslims were less likely to consume alcohol during pregnancy compared to Christians: [AOR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.40–0.92). The prevalence of tobacco exposure in the index pregnancy was 64 (3.7%), i.e. one in every 27 pregnancies is exposed to tobacco. In contrast, cigarette smoking, second-hand smoke and smokeless tobacco were 0.4, 1.7 and 1.8%, respectively. Pre-pregnancy cigarette smoking was reported by 33(1.9%) and was the most significant predictor [AOR = 12.95; 95% CI: 4.93, 34.03) of tobacco exposure during pregnancy in our study population.ConclusionsAlcohol consumption and tobacco exposure are not uncommon and have been an ongoing but neglected threat to maternal and child health in Nigeria. Alcohol and tobacco control policy and programmes to prevent the use among pregnant and reproductive-age women in Nigeria should be implemented primarily during antenatal care.

Differential relationships between discount rates and health behaviors in an ethnically diverse college sample.

Previous research has demonstrated associations between delay discount rate and engagement in several health behaviors. The delay discount rate is also inversely associated with social discount rates, a putative measure for sharing. However, there is little research that examines whether delay and social discount rates are differentially associated with health behavior engagement, and even less research examining the impact of ethnicity on these relationships. This study investigated whether delay and/or social discount rates predict three health behaviors varying in sociality: sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, alcohol consumption and exercise frequency in an ethnically diverse university sample. The results showed that neither delay nor social discount rate significantly predicted alcohol consumption and exercise frequency. However, increasing social discount rates (i.e., decreased sharing) was associated with a decreased likelihood to be tested for STIs. Ethnicity significantly contributed to two models, indicating differences in STI testing and alcohol consumption across ethnicities. Ethnic differences in these health behaviors were consistent with many previous health behavior studies, suggesting a profitable way to research cultural contingencies and test the reliability of the ethnically diverse data. These findings indicate that the social discount rate is differentially associated with health behaviors with more social aspects (i.e., health behaviors related to sex) in college students.