Potentially Traumatic Events and the Association with Hazardous Alcohol Use in 19,128 Middle Aged and Elderly Adults: the Tromsø Study 2015-2016

Overview

Journal Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol

Specialties Psychiatry
Public Health
Social Sciences

Date 2024 Dec 18

PMID 39692871

Authors

Vendela Husberg-Bru

Laila A Hopstock

Jens C Thimm

Torgeir Gilje Lid

Kamilla Rognmo

Catharina Elisabeth Arfwedson Wang

Kristin Gustavson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim was to examine the association between a wide range of potentially traumatic events (PTEs) experienced in childhood, adulthood or both, and hazardous alcohol use, including the relationship between the total sum of PTEs and hazardous alcohol use in middle aged and elderly adults. Previous studies have predominantly focused on childhood PTEs or isolated PTEs and more severe alcohol problems, little focus has been given to middle aged and elderly adults with hazardous alcohol use and PTE experiences.

Methods: We used logistic regression analysis to study the relation between a broad range of PTEs and hazardous alcohol defined by the alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT) in 19,128 women and men aged 40 years and above participating in the seventh survey of the Norwegian population-based Tromsø Study in 2015-2016. Alcohol abstainers were excluded from the analyses.

Results: Experience of violence, sexual abuse, bullying, painful or frightening medical and dental treatments, and serious illness or accident by a loved one were associated with higher odds for hazardous alcohol use. Further, there were higher odds of hazardous alcohol use per additional experienced PTE (OR = 1.22, 95% CI 1.20-1.25, p ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion: PTEs were prevalent among participants who had a hazardous alcohol use. Also, most of the PTEs occurring in childhood, adulthood or both were independently related to hazardous alcohol use. Moreover, the findings indicate an association in the relationship between the number of PTEs and hazardous alcohol use.

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