Lucy Zinkiewicz

Review of rural and regional alcohol research in Australia.

INTRODUCTION Alcohol is the most commonly used drug within Australia. Recently, there have been indications that there is a greater incidence of high-risk drinking within rural populations as compared with their urban counterparts. High-risk drinking is associated with numerous conditions, such as diabetes, heart attack and cancer, as well as acute harms such as assault, suicide and road accidents. The objective of this article is to review the current research and relevant data pertaining to alcohol use and alcohol-related harms within rural Australia. METHODS This paper is a systematic review of 16 databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO and Google Scholar. RESULTS Overall, 18 studies describing alcohol consumption or alcohol-related harms were found. Approximately half of these studies were large-scale national population surveys, which were therefore limited in their representativeness of specific regional and rural towns. Most studies examining alcohol consumption used self-report data collection, meaning that interpretation of results needs to be tentative. There is a consistent pattern of higher rates of alcohol consumption and consequent harm within regional and rural Australia than in urban areas. CONCLUSIONS There is emerging research examining alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harms within regional and rural Australia. All studies show that these populations experience disproportionate harm because of alcohol consumption. The causes and mechanism for this have not been investigated, and a program of research is required to understand how and why rural populations experience disproportionate levels of alcohol-related harm and ultimately, what interventions will be most effective in reducing alcohol-related harms.

The association between sports participation, alcohol use and aggression and violence: A systematic review

OBJECTIVES To review the current research on alcohol-related violence and sports participation. METHODS The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were used to identify relevant studies for inclusion. A search of six databases (EBSCOhost) was conducted. RESULTS A total of 6890 studies was were identified in the initial search. Of these, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies were from the US (n=10) and focused on collegiate athletes (n=7), adolescents (n=3), professional/former professional athletes (n=1). CONCLUSION The reviewed research indicates higher rates of alcohol use and violence in athlete populations when compared against non-athlete populations. Masculinity, violent social identity and antisocial norms connected to certain sports stand out as potential factors that may impact the association between sport and violence in athlete populations.

Alcohol, masculinity, honour and male barroom aggression in an Australian sample

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS The link between alcohol and mens aggression is well established, although growing evidence also points to individual and learned social factors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships between male alcohol-related aggression (MARA) among young Australian men and heavy episodic drinking, trait aggression, masculinity, concerns about social honour and expected positive consequences of MARA. DESIGN AND METHODS The total sample comprised 170 men aged 18-25 years who completed an online questionnaire exploring beliefs and attitudes towards MARA. RESULTS Those who reported heavy episodic drinking were more likely to be involved in an incident of MARA. In addition, those who were involved in MARA had higher levels of trait aggression, concern for social honour and expected positive consequences of aggression in bars than did those without such involvement. The relationship between socially constructed masculinity factors (a combined variable reflecting masculinity, social honour and expected positive consequences) and MARA was mediated by heavy episodic drinking. Social honour accounted for almost all of the predictive power of masculinity factors. Heavy episodic drinking and trait aggression remained significant predictors of MARA in a multivariate model. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The findings from the current study may assist in developing preventative techniques for young men which target masculinity concerns and the consequences of participating in MARA.

Employee support for alcohol reduction intervention strategies in an Australian railway

The current study surveyed employees of an Australian state railway (N = 4979), in order to assess perceptions of alcohol as a problem in the workplace, and employee support for alcohol intervention strategies. Of the sample, 13% reported having seen an alcohol-related accident. Eighty-four percent felt that alcohol affected the railway workplace, with absenteeism and health being the most frequently reported problems. Those reporting higher drinking frequency were the least likely to see alcohol as a problem for the workplace. Respondents felt that those coming to work drunk or hungover should discuss the issue with their supervisor or be sent to the employment assistance program (EAP) for counselling. Those who had sought help within the organization for drinking problems reported seeking help from workmates and EAP counsellors. Respondents felt that the organization should deal with alcohol in the workplace by providing education and information on its alcohol and drug policy and on the effects of alcohol in the workplace, and by encouraging use of the EAP. Those reporting higher frequency drinking showed least knowledge of the organizations policy, the least support for any intervention strategy, and the most support for doing nothing. Overall, this study attested to the importance of a clear, well-understood drug and alcohol policy within an organization, and to the need for education and support services such as those provided through an EAP.

The association between an abusive father-son relationship, quantity of alcohol consumption, and male-to-male alcohol-related aggression

BACKGROUND While alcohol consumption and heavy episodic (binge) drinking are well-established predictors of male-to-male alcohol-related aggression (MMARA), the role of the father-son relationship in MMARA has yet to be explored. METHODS This study therefore examined whether fathering by the biological father rather than another father figure, negative fathering, and gender role modeled by the father figure were significant predictors of involvement in MMARA, once drinking frequency and quantity and heavy episodic drinking were controlled for. A total of 121 university students aged 18 to 25 years (M = 20.63, SD = 1.77 years) voluntarily completed the online questionnaire. RESULTS The only significant predictors of perpetration of MMARA were a more abusive paternal relationship and drinking quantity (number of standard drinks usually consumed when drinking). CONCLUSIONS Negative father-son relationships may play a role in fostering young mens perpetration of MMARA in the barroom context.

Aggression-related alcohol expectancies and barroom aggression among construction tradespeople.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Few studies have investigated the relationship of barroom aggression with both general and barroom-specific alcohol expectancies. The present study investigated these associations in a rarely studied and high-risk population: construction tradespeople. DESIGN AND METHODS Male construction tradespeople (n = 211) aged 18-35 years (M = 21.91, SD = 4.08 years) participated in a face-to-face questionnaire assessing general and barroom-specific alcohol expectancies and perpetration of physical and verbal barroom aggression as well as control variables, age, alcohol consumption and trait aggression. RESULTS Sequential logistic regression analyses revealed that general alcohol-aggression expectancies of courage or dominance were not predictive of either verbal or physical barroom aggression after controlling for age, alcohol consumption and trait aggression. However, barroom-specific alcohol expectancies were associated with both verbal and physical barroom aggression, with positive associations found for expected hyper-emotionality and protective effects for expected cognitive impairment. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS In a population where rates of risky drinking and barroom aggression are high, specific expectations about the effects of drinking in bars may influence subsequent aggressive behaviour in bars. [Zinkiewicz L, Smith G, Burn M, Litherland S, Wells S, Graham K, Miller P. Aggression-related alcohol expectancies and barroom aggression among construction tradespeople. Drug Alcohol Rev 2016;35:549-556].

Barroom aggression among Australian tradesmen: associations with heavy episodic drinking, trait aggression, and conformity to masculine norms

Abstract Objective: Past research associates heavy episodic drinking (HED), trait aggression, and conformity to masculine norms with increased risk of barroom aggression (BA) perpetration by men. Such studies have mostly employed university samples, limiting the generalizability of these findings to other male groups. This study assessed the association of HED, trait aggression, and masculine norms with BA perpetration in a sample of male tradespeople. Method: Australian tradesmen aged 18–35 years (N = 221, Mage = 21.92, SDage = 4.08, 81.5% apprentices) completed an individual interview at their place of work or training, assessing past-month HED and past-year verbal and physical BA perpetrations, as well as the short Buss-Perry Aggression Questionnaire and items from the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory-46. Results: Participants reported high levels of verbal (35.1%) and physical (27%) BA perpetration. Negative binomial regression analyses found that HED, trait aggression, and Winning, Risk-taking, and Playboy norms predicted increased risk of both verbal and physical BA perpetrations, while Violence was negatively associated with verbal BA perpetration. Conclusions: Trait aggression was the strongest predictor of both verbal and physical BA perpetrations. Dispositional aggression, HED, and norms endorsing competitiveness, risk-taking, and promiscuity increase the risk of male tradespeople engaging in BA.

The right place at the right time: The social contexts of combined alcohol and energy drink use

Abstract Aims: Little is known about the social and functional aspects of alcohol mixed with energy drink (AmED) consumption. Using a functional substance use perspective and via the lens of social identity theory, this paper aims to explore the role of AmED consumption amongst the milieu of nightlife and party culture. Methods: Twenty-five regular AmED consumers aged 18–33 participated in semi-structured interviews. Qualitative thematic analysis of transcripts was undertaken, with a focus on the social contexts and perceived functions of AmED consumption, group dynamics and social identity. Findings: Three main themes were identified: (i) AmED use was restricted to specific social contexts, (ii) AmED use performed a social function and (iii) AmED users identified with a coherent and consistent social identity. AmED use was almost exclusively reported to occur within group drinking scenarios at parties and licensed venues, particularly nightclubs. AmED users identified with a clear and consistent social identity that was distinct from other alcohol consumers, typified by gregarious and extroverted behaviour. AmED use was seen to facilitate these ideals and strengthen group cohesion in appropriate contexts. Conclusions: Future efforts aiming to elicit changes in AmED consumption practices must account for the fundamental importance of social contexts to AmED use.

Combined use of alcohol and energy drinks: Dose relationship with self-reported physiological stimulation and sedation side effects

BACKGROUND Negative physiological stimulation and sedation side effects are experienced by a significant proportion of consumers who consume alcohol mixed with energy drinks (AmED). Few studies have compared the frequency of side effects between sessions of AmED and sessions of alcohol only within-subject, and none have explored a dose relationship. OBJECTIVES Explore the occurrence of self-reported physiological stimulant and sedative side effects between sessions of AmED and alcohol only, and at varying ED dosage levels within AmED sessions. METHODS A convenience sample of 2953 residents of New South Wales, Australia completed an online survey. N=731 AmED users reported daily caffeine intake, typical alcohol and AmED consumption, and past 12-month experience of physiological stimulation and sedation side effects during AmED and alcohol only sessions. Within-subject analyses compared occurrence of side effects between session types. Hierarchical binary logistic regression analyses explored the association of ED dose during AmED sessions with the experience of physiological side effects. RESULTS There were greater odds of most stimulant side effects, and lower odds of sedation side effects, during AmED sessions compared to alcohol only sessions. Compared to one ED, consumption of three or more EDs was significantly associated with the majority of both stimulant and alcohol intoxication side effects after controlling for demographics and consumption covariates. CONCLUSIONS AmED is associated with perceived changes in physiological stimulant and sedation side effects of alcohol. Experience of side effects is positively associated with ED dosage. Future research should account for varying ED dosage, and reflect real world consumption levels.

Barroom aggression perpetration by Australian women: Associations with heavy episodic drinking, trait aggression, and conformity to gender norms

ABSTRACT Heavy episodic drinking (HED), trait aggression, and conformity to masculine norms increase the risk of barroom aggression (BA) perpetration in men; however, research examining these factors relative to female BA perpetration is lacking. This study assessed the associations of HED, trait aggression, and conformity to masculine and feminine norms with BA perpetration in Australian women. Female university students (N = 148) aged 18–54 (Mage = 24.19; SDage = 6.84) completed an online questionnaire including measures of BA perpetration and HED, as well as the Brief Aggression Questionnaire, the Conformity to Feminine Norms Inventory (CFNI), and the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory (CMNI). Negative binomial regression analyses found HED, trait aggression, and the Violence and Playboy subscales of the CMNI were positively associated with BA perpetration, while the Domestic and Sexual Fidelity subscales of the CFNI were negatively associated with BA perpetration. Norms supporting the use of violence and having multiple sexual partners are associated with increased likelihood of female BA perpetration, while norms valuing domesticity and monogamy are associated with decreased likelihood of female BA perpetration. These findings suggest BA perpetration by women is related to how much they drink, trait aggression, and socialized gender norms.