Excessive drinking and alcohol-related deaths are increasing at a disturbing rate among women, particularly those in their late 20s and 30s.
This trend is largely due to the growing number of women who are choosing to delay or forego parenting, according to a new study from the Boston University School of Public Health (BUSPH).
About the Study
Published in the journal Addiction, the study found that women who had not had children by age 35, or those who turned 35 in recent years, are at the highest risk of binge drinking and displaying alcohol use disorder (AUD) symptoms.
It is the first study to consider the impact of delayed parenting on excessive alcohol use among newer generations of middle-aged women.
Implications
These findings underscore the need to address excessive drinking among all women, particularly among this growing group of childless women.
The consequences of excessive drinking among reproductive-age women include a higher risk for liver disease, alcohol-related injuries, and breast cancer, along with a sharper increase in alcohol-related mortality.
Data and Findings
The study examined data from nearly 10,000 self-identified women participants who completed a survey at age 35 between 1993 and 2019.
It found that women who turned 35 between 2018 and 2019 were nearly 60% more likely to binge drink or report AUD symptoms than those who turned 35 between 1993 and 1997.
Also, only 39% of women in the 2018-2019 cohort had children before age 30, compared to 54% of women in the 1993-1997 cohort.
Cultural Influences
Several societal and cultural changes, such as women choosing to postpone motherhood to pursue higher education and establish a career, are influencing these simultaneous increases in delayed parenting and excessive alcohol consumption.
The study also points out that the social acceptance and normalization of alcohol consumption in daily life in the U.S., often promoted by social media-driven “wine-mom” culture, are contributing to the trend.
Future Research and Intervention
Researchers stress the need for further investigation into the impacts of social media messages and alcohol products targeting women on their drinking behaviors.
It’s critical for the public health community to develop approaches and interventions that appeal to all middle-aged women, given that excessive drinking is increasing among this demographic.
Measures should be taken to improve access to AUD treatment for women and mothers, including addressing stigma, increasing women-focused treatment settings, and expanding flexible treatment options.
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The study was published in Addiction.
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