Gender, Perceptions of Harm, and Other Social Predictors of Alcohol Use in a Punjabi Community in the Toronto Area

Abstract

Based on self-administered face-to-face interviews conducted in 1992–93 with 524 members of the Punjabi community in Peel, near Toronto, this study investigates the factors associated with alcohol use in the community. Results from alcohol and other drug surveys in Ontario are used for comparison between the two samples regarding drinking and sociodemographic characteristics. Bivariate analyses indicate a lower prevalence rate of drinking among the Punjabi sample than the Ontario population, especially among women. In spite of this, a majority of the Punjabi respondents perceive that alcohol problems are widespread in their community. Logistic regression results show that sex, importance of religion, perceived risk of alcohol, and opinion on alcohol price in the province are significantly associated with alcohol use. The effects of socioeconomic status, perception of public drunkenness, and levels of integration appear to be not significant. In light of these results, some implications for “alcohol abuse” prevention strategies are discussed.

Key Words:

• Alcohol use
• Perceived risk
• Punjabi community
• Gender
• Acculturation