Contextual characteristics of adults’ drinking occasions and their association with levels of alcohol consumption and acute alcohol‐related harm: a mapping review

Abstract

Background and AimsThere is a growing literature using event-level methods to estimate associations between contextual characteristics of drinking occasions, consumption levels and acute harms. This literature spans many research traditions and has not been brought together as a whole. This mapping review aimed to identify and describe the theoretical approaches to conceptualizing drinking occasions, study designs, predictors and outcome measures used in existing research with a view to identifying dominant approaches, research gaps and areas for further synthesis.Methods Eligible papers studied adults' drinking occasions using quantitative event-level methods and considered one or more contextual characteristics (e.g. venue, timing or company) and at least one event-level c onsumption or acute alcohol-related harm outcome. We systematically searched Ovid MEDLINE, PsycInfo and the Web of Science Social Sciences Citation Index, extracting data on studies' theoretical approach, data collection methods, settings, populations, drinking occasion characteristics and outcome measures. Results Searches identified 278 eligible papers (from 1975 to 2019), predominantly published after 2010 (n = 181; 65.1%). Most papers reported research conducted in the United States (n = 170; 61.2%) and half used student participants (n = 133; 47.8%). Papers typically lacked a stated theoretical approach (n = 203; 73.0%). Consistent with this, only 53 (19.1%) papers studied three or more occasion characteristics and most used methods that assume occasion characteristics do not change during an occasion (n = 189; 68.0%). The most common outcome type considered was consumption (n = 224; 80.6%) and only a few papers studied specific acute harm outcomes such as unprotected sex (n = 24; 8.6%), drink driving (n = 14; 5.0%) or sexual violence (n = 9; 3.2%). Conclusions Studies from 1975 to 2019 using event-level methods to estimate associations between contextual characteristics of drinking occasions, consumption levels and acute harms were largely focused on students and consumption outcomes, and most have considered a limited range of contextual characteristics.

Drinking contexts and their association with acute alcohol‐related harm: A systematic review of event‐level studies on adults' drinking occasions

“…The findings of our review are constrained by limitations of the existing literature. Our recent mapping review highlighted that papers often lack clearly stated reasons for the contextual characteristics studied, and that few studies comprehensively capture occasion characteristics . As drinking occasions have not been clearly conceptualised, there may be important contextual characteristics for understanding the situational drivers of alcohol‐related harm missing from the existing literature (e.g.…”

“…The mapping review included papers with either consumption or acute alcohol‐related harm outcomes, while the present study synthesises only papers reporting harm outcomes. The search strategy used for the mapping review is reported in detail elsewhere . Briefly, we used systematic searches of Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid PsycInfo and the Web of Science Social Science Citation Index.…”

“…ecological momentary assessment, experimental and diary methods). Event‐level methods are methodologically diverse and well suited to studying contextual characteristics of drinking occasions . For instance, in experimental designs, the researcher manipulates the contextual characteristics of the drinking occasion, while ecological momentary assessments collect reports from drinkers in real time (or close to it), and diary methods collect retrospective data on specific drinking occasions.…”

“…For example, playing drinking games has been found to increase alcohol‐related harms beyond the influence of elevated intoxication, such as where drinking games are associated with situational norms conducive to risky behaviour . If direct and moderation effects are common then research needs to measure harm outcomes to fully understand the relationships between contextual characteristics and harm, informing epidemiological modelling and policy making .…”

“…Our recent mapping review identified and described methodological features of event‐level studies estimating associations between contextual characteristics and alcohol consumption and/or acute alcohol‐related harm, including highlighting the predominant methodological approaches . We found a fast‐growing body of literature that is diverse and fragmented across disciplinary and methodological traditions.…”