Education and Alcohol Consumption among Older Americans; Black–White Differences

Abstract

PurposeAlthough the link between education and alcohol consumption is known, limited information exists on racial differences in this link. We conducted the current study to test Black–White differences in the association between education and alcohol consumption among older adults in the U.S.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey enrolled 1,493 Black (n = 734) and White (n = 759) older adults (age 66 or more) in U.S. Data came from the Religion, Aging, and Health Survey, 2001. Race, demographics, socioeconomics, and alcohol consumption were measured. Independent variable was education level. Outcome was alcohol consumption. Race was the focal moderator. Logistic regression was used for data analysis.ResultsEducation was positively associated with ever drinking in the pooled sample. However, race interacted with education level on drinking, suggesting a smaller effect of education on drinking for Blacks compared to Whites. Among Whites, high-school graduation and college graduation were associated with increased odds of ever drinking, net of covariates. Among Blacks, high-school graduation, but not college graduation, was associated with ever drinking.ConclusionBlacks and Whites differ in how socioeconomic status (i.e., education) shapes behaviors, especially health behaviors (i.e., drinking). How race modifies consequences and correlates of social determinants of health is not yet clear. College graduation may result in the same level of change to the social network and income of race group members. Weaker effect of education on health of Blacks may be due to the structural role of race and racism that has resulted in lower job availability and pay for Blacks.

Health Disparities due to Diminished Return among Black Americans: Public Policy Solutions

“…As previously suggested, these studies have consistently found smaller health benefits from access to social resources and possession of certain assets for Blacks compared to Whites. These findings seem to hold across developmental phases, as they are observed among young people (Assari, Thomas, Cadlwell, & Mincy, ), adults (Assari & Lankarani, ), and older adults (Assari & Lankarani, ).…”

High Risk of Depression in High-Income African American Boys

“…Other researchers have found ethnic and gender differences in health gains associated with SES indicators such as education [2,42–44,64–68]. Ethnicity [47], gender [2,45,69] and their intersection [45,49,50] may alter health gain associated with SES.…”

“…The intersection of race and gender may also modify the shape and also the mechanisms by which SES protects health outcomes [42]. Thus, rather than as control variables, race, ethnicity, and gender should be conceptualized as effect modifiers [44]. …”

“…The effect of SES indicators depend on the availability of other resources, which depends on a wide range of demographic and socio-economic factors [46], and how SES resources increase income, wealth, purchasing power, and living conditions including life styles and behaviors across sub-populations [44,47–50]. For instance, education is differentially associated with drinking patterns [44], risk of mortality [47], chronic disease [49], and depressive symptoms [49] and suicidality [50] of Whites and Blacks.…”

Diminished Returns of Educational Attainment on Heart Disease among Black Americans

“…In one study, highly educated Black and Hispanic people were found to be exposed to high levels of second-hand smoke exposure [33]. In addition, highly educated Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to drink alcohol [15,34], smoke cigarettes [18,35], and vape e-cigarettes [36]. This is probably why highly educated Black and Hispanic individuals may be at a higher risk of a wide range of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension [37], chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [29] Some of the mechanisms behind these MDRs include societal and structural processes and factors such as residential segregation, extra costs of moving upward in the society [38,39], and a higher level of exposure [8,40,41] and sensitivity to discrimination [42] in ethnic minorities, particularly Blacks.…”