Exact age that woman are most at risk of drinking excessively - new study
A new study has revealed that women withour children aged 35 face the highest risk of binge drinking.
This study, conducted by researchers from Boston University School of Public Health, indicated that this is observed among a newer generation of college-educated women who have chosen to delay parenthood in pursuit of their careers.
Surprisingly, even women who are mothers are not exempt from this risk, as the rise of "wine o'clock" culture encourages them to use alcohol as a means to cope with the stresses of child-rearing.
The research, published in the journal Addiction, is the first of its kind to explore the impact of delayed parenting on excessive alcohol consumption among middle-aged women.
The study's lead author, Dr. Rachel Sayko Adams, a research associate professor of health law, policy & management, notes that as more women opt to postpone having children, a growing proportion falls into the highest-risk group for heavy drinking.
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Binge drinking and AUD symptoms are expected to continue increasing among middle-aged women if not addressed (Getty Images)The study highlights that women who turned 35 in recent years, as well as those who have not had children by age 35, are particularly susceptible to binge drinking and alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms.
The consequences of this growing prevalence of heavy drinking among middle-aged women are amplified by the overall increase in excessive alcohol use in recent cohorts.
Study lead author Dr Rachel Sayko Adams, a research associate professor of health law, policy & management, said: "Because more women are delaying having children a growing proportion of women fall into the highest risk group.
“This growing prevalence of heavy drinking is exacerbated given that excessive alcohol use is increasing overall for middle-aged women in more recent cohorts.
Social media platforms, particularly targeting mothers, may contribute to the normalization of drinking to cope with motherhood. (Getty Images)"Therefore, at-risk alcohol use and consequences are expected to continue increasing in future years, if not addressed.”
Compared to men, women who engage in binge drinking face greater risks of liver disease, alcohol-related injuries, breast cancer, and alcohol-related mortality.
The researchers gathered data from a survey called Monitoring the Future, which involved approximately 10,000 women.
The participants, who completed the survey at age 35 between 1993 and 2019, provided information on their parental status, age of first-time parenting, binge drinking habits, and symptoms of AUD.
The findings indicate that women who turned 35 between 2018 and 2019 were nearly 60 percent more likely to engage in binge drinking or report AUD symptoms compared to women who turned 35 between 1993 and 1997.
Increased support for women who parent and improved access to AUD treatment are necessary, researchers said (Getty Images)The trend towards delayed parenting was evident, as only 39 percent of women in the 2018-2019 cohort had children before the age of 30, while 54 percent of women in the 1993-1997 cohort had done so.
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Dr. Katherine Keyes, the senior author of the study and a professor of epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, explains that the drinking culture is becoming more prevalent among both mothers and women without children in their mid-thirties.
She said: "“Alcohol industry messages around drinking for stress relief and enjoyment have always been part of the industry’s advertising strategy, and we’ve seen this emerge on social media platforms, particularly geared towards people who parent.
Researchers called for improved access to alcohol use disorder (AUD) treatment for women, addressing stigma“Promotion of alcohol use for mums to deal with the stresses of motherhood in Facebook and Instagram groups have common hashtags such as #winemom, #sendwine, and #mommyjuice.
"Simultaneously, there has been a rapid increase in alcohol products targeting middle-age women such as low-calorie seltzers, pink beverages, and expressions such as ‘rosé all day.’”
The researchers emphasize the need for further investigation into the influence of social media messages and groups targeting women on their drinking behaviors.
They also suggest the development of support systems for women who are parents, such as facilitating social connections and increasing workplace support, to reduce the reliance on alcohol as a coping mechanism.
Additionally, researchers said efforts should be made to improve access to AUD treatment for women and mothers, including addressing stigma, creating women-focused treatment settings, and expanding flexible treatment options.
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