http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3689-8735
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ABSTRACT
This article investigates the influence of socioeconomic factors on heavy drinking over the course of the week. As part of a randomized controlled trial, 1,282 job seekers with at-risk alcohol use were systematically recruited at 3 job agencies and reported number of drinks consumed on each day in the past week. Latent growth curve models were calculated to represent variations of alcohol use. School education and duration of lifetime unemployment were tested as predictors; sociodemographic variables were integrated as covariates. A weekly pattern was confirmed in the total sample: constant low alcohol use on working days, escalation on Friday, and a further increase on weekends. Significant associations between longer duration of lifetime unemployment and higher initial alcohol use on Sundays (p < .001) and less increase on Fridays (p = .001) disappeared after controlling for sociodemographic factors. Longer duration of lifetime unemployment does not appear to affect alcohol use trajectories over the course of the week.
Acknowledgments
The authors appreciate Stefanie Tobschall and the study staff for collecting the data, the study participants for providing information, and the staff of the 3 job agencies for supporting our study (Agentur für Arbeit Greifswald, Agentur für Arbeit Stralsund, Job-Center Stralsund).
Funding
The study was funded by the German Research Foundation (FR2661/1-1, FR2661/1-2) and the German Cancer Aid (108376, 109737, 110676, 110543, 111346). Work on this paper was funded by the State Graduate Funding (KH) and the Alfried Krupp von Bohlen and Halbach Foundation (SB). The founders were not involved in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; and preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.