Social Risks for At-Risk Drinking in Young Workers: Application of Work-Life Border Theory

• NCJ Number: 216304
• Journal: Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 36 Issue: 3 Dated: Summer 2006 Pages: 485-514
• Author(s): Joel B. Bennett; Camille R. Patterson; Wyndy L. Wiitala; Ada Woo
• Date Published: 2006
• Length: 30 pages
• Grant Number(s): DA04390; 1 UD1 SPO9416-01
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse; SAMHSA Ctr for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP)
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study identified work-life risks uniquely linked to at-risk alcohol consumption by young workers (ages 18 to 30) compared to two groups of older workers (31 to 40 and 41 or older).

Abstract

The most consistent finding for younger workers was that when they had difficulty keeping personal problems from influencing the quality and consistency of their work, they were more likely to be at risk for alcohol problems. This suggests that problems in their personal lives contributed to problems at work, thus compounding the stress and disorder in their lives, which placed them at risk for alcohol abuse as a coping mechanism. Alcohol problems then added to their personal and work problems. The 31 to 40 age group reported the highest levels of conflict on both measures of work and personal life, particularly for those who worked in small businesses. At-risk drinking was only slightly higher for the 18 to 30 group compared to the 31 to 40 age group. Drinking norms and drinking with coworkers were significantly higher among workers of all ages who drank excessively and had hangovers at work. Findings support the general hypothesis that the work-life border zone is a significant area that can predict risks for alcohol problems. These risks vary somewhat by age and type of work setting. The sample of municipal workers (n=587) were employed in some capacity by a southwestern city. Participants who were employed in small businesses (n=1,355) worked in urban/suburban industries identified as at high risk for alcohol or drug abuse. Variables pertained to drinking behavior in the past 6 months and symptoms of alcohol dependency. Also measured were job-related hangovers, drinking norms, drinking with coworkers, conflict stemming from work carried over into leisure life, conflict from leisure life carried over into work, and coworker social interaction. 5 figures, 2 tables, and 54 references