Socially based trajectories of alcohol use among indigenous Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Abstract

To build on current understandings of alcohol use, this study explored socially based trajectories of everyday alcohol use across the lives of indigenous Māori in Aotearoa (New Zealand), as described by older Māori. A Māori-centred research approach was employed using face-to-face interviews with 13 older Māori people to explore their personal experiences of alcohol use over their lifetime. Thematic analysis was used to identify key life events and social factors which influenced participants’ alcohol use within three chronologically ordered life stages: childhood, adulthood and older age. Participants’ perceptions of alcohol use by others during childhood, their first alcohol use experience, meeting their partner and having children and the impact of ageing were all related to changes in alcohol use. These results build on public health conceptualisations of alcohol use among Māori by offering insight into the social influences of alcohol use. These findings can be used to inform future research to show the role of everyday alcohol use in regard to health and well-being.

Keywords:

• Māori
• alcohol
• social
• policy
• public health

Acknowledgements

We are sincerely grateful to the Māori participants who so generously shared their stories and time for this research, ngā mihi nui ki a koutou.