Eating, Drinking, and Smoking and Their Relationship in Adult Women

Abstract

The eating, drinking, and smoking habits of 766 women aged 20 to 30 yr. were studied. The behaviors were seen as currently prevalent representatives of the set of indulgent behaviors and so were of interest as a group. The total pool of volunteer subjects yielded two quasirepresentative samples of 265 subjects each which matched each other and census data across a range of demographic variables and were used to crosscheck all results. A subsample of 64 subjects provided retest data at an interval of 3 mo. between testings. Measures for the study included indicators of status in the drinking and smoking domains, and measures of level in each domain. All measures had generally acceptable psychometric properties. Within the study samples, and using the measures as developed, the behaviors were empirically independent apart from a moderate link from status in the smoking domain to drinking behavior. The predominant finding of empirical independence was explored in terms of the different frequency bases of the three behaviors, the different subjective priorities associated with them, and the possibility of opposing combinatorial and substitutory pressures.

Building International Research Partnerships to Develop HIV Programs for Women of Color in the Context of Social Inequalities and Human Rights

“…The findings support relationships between secondary social status and AIDS risk. For example, non-drug-using women at greatest risk for HIV infection are those who are less educated, have the least self-perceived power in relationships, and have a history of abuse (Singer et al, 1993;Streissguth, 1991;Beckwith, 1986). Low perceived power in a relationship is associated with less frequent condom use and higher rates of abuse by partners (Cohen et al, 1994;Worth, 1989).…”

“…Relative to men, women may also have limited options for social and economic support (Loewenson, 2002;Streissguth, 1991;Beckwith, 1986;Ellison & Sterk, 2003). As a result, they may become further enmeshed in the drug lifestyle and dependent on sexual exchanges as a means of earning income.…”

Attitudes of Adult Women to Drinking and Smoking

“…Characteristics of the criterion measures have been presented previously (Beckwith, 1986), and basic statistics as summarized here were comparable with previous research (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 1978;Hill & Gray, 1982;1984). The criterion measures of status were called drink: yes/no and smoke: yes/no, and the measures of level were drink level and smoke level.…”

“…Details of the method of the study have been given previously (Beckwith, 1986). In summary, data were contributed by 766 women aged 20 to 30 years who completed a self-administered questionnaire.…”

African American Substance Use

“…Compared with women who do not report use of illicit drugs, drug-using women are more likely to be single, separated, or divorced; have less than a high school education; use alcohol and tobacco in addition to illicit drugs; and have fewer sources of social support (Beckwith, 1986;Singer, Arendt, & Minnes, 1993;Streissguth et al, 1991). In addition to histories of childhood physical and sexual abuse, female drug abusers are more likely to be physically and sexually abused during the time of their drug use.…”