Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39369192›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2024

The role of alcohol consumption in the lives of older Australian women: qualitative insights and an agenda for further research, policy and practice.

Simone McCarthy, Hannah Pitt, Kelli Benjamin, Julia Stafford, Danica Keric, Grace Arnot, Samantha Thomas

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Simone McCarthyFaculty of Health, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia. simone.mccarthy@deakin.edu.au.
Hannah PittFaculty of Health, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Kelli BenjaminFaculty of Health, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Julia StaffordCancer Council Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Danica KericCancer Council Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
Grace ArnotFaculty of Health, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.
Samantha ThomasFaculty of Health, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAlcohol consumption presents a threat to the health and wellbeing of women. The alcohol industry often pushes back at global efforts to prioritise the prevention of alcohol harms to women. Qualitative researchers have investigated how younger and midlife women conceptualise their alcohol consumption, but there is very limited research relating to older women (those 60 years and over).

methodsUsing data collected from an online qualitative survey, this paper explored the factors that influence how older Australian women drinkers (n = 144. 60-88 years) conceptualised the role of alcohol in their lives. The study used a 'Big Q' reflexive approach to thematic analysis, drawing upon sociological theories of risk and symbolic interactionism to construct four themes from the data.

resultsFirst, alcohol consumption was viewed by participants as an accepted and normalised social activity, that was part of Australian culture. Second, alcohol played a role for some participants as a way to cope with life changes (such as retirement), as well as managing stressful or challenging life circumstances (such as loneliness). Third, alcohol was part of the routines and rituals of everyday life for some women. For example, women discussed the consumption of wine with their evening meal as an important part of the structure of their day. Fourth, participants had clear personal expectancies about what it meant to be a 'responsible drinker'. They had clear narratives about personal control and moral obligation, which in some cases created a reduced perception of their own risk of alcohol-caused harm.

conclusionsThis research provides a starting point for future public health research examining the factors that may shape older women's alcohol consumption beliefs and practices. Public health activities should consider the unique needs and potential vulnerabilities of older women drinkers, and how these may be potentially exploited by the alcohol industry.

Indexed as

Alcohol DrinkingQualitative ResearchAgedAged, 80 and overAustraliaFemaleHealth PolicyHumansMiddle AgedAlcoholCommercial determinants of healthOlder adultsRisk perceptionsWomen

Identifiers

PMID39369192
PMCPMC11453004

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.