Differences by gender at twelve months in a brief intervention trial among Mexican-origin young adults in the emergency department

ABSTRACT

In this study, we investigate the role of gender in prevalence and consequences of binge drinking and brief intervention outcomes among Mexican-origin young adults aged 18–30 years at the U.S.-Mexico border. We conducted a secondary analysis, stratified by gender, from a randomized controlled trial of a brief motivational intervention in a hospital emergency department. Intervention effects for males included reductions in drinking frequency, binge drinking, and alcohol-related consequences. For females the intervention was associated with reduction in drinking frequency and binge drinking but did not have a significant effect on alcohol-related consequences. Results suggest a new direction for tailoring interventions to gender.

KEYWORDS:

• Unhealthy alcohol use
• brief intervention
• youth and young adults
• gender differences