Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Non-drinking among young people has increased over the past decade in England, yet the underlying factor driving this change is unknown. Traditionally non-drinking has been found to be associated with lower socio-economic status and poorer health. This study explores among which sub-groups non-drinking has increased, and how this correlates with changes in drinking patterns, to identify whether behaviours are becoming more polarised, or reduction is widespread among young people.Methods
Among participants aged 16 to 24 years (N?=?9699), within the annual cross-sectional nationally-representative Health Survey for England 2005-2015 datasets, the following analyses were conducted: 1) The proportion of non-drinkers among social-demographic and health sub-groups by year, and tests for linear trends among sub-groups, adjusting for age were calculated. In pooled analyses, an interaction between year and each variable was modelled in sex- and age-adjusted logistic regression models on the odds of being a non-drinker versus drinker 2) At the population level, spearman correlation co-efficients were calculated between the proportion non-drinking and the mean alcohol units consumed and binge drinking on the heaviest drinking day, by year. Ordinary least squares regression analyses were used, modelling the proportion non-drinking as the independent variable, and the mean units/binge drinking as the dependent variable.Results
Rates of non-drinking increased from 18% (95%CI 16-22%) in 2005 to 29% (25-33%) in 2015 (test for trend; p?ConclusionIncreases in non-drinking among young people has coincided with a delayed initiation into alcohol consumption, and are to be welcomed. Future research should explore attitudes towards drinking among young people.
SUBMITTER: Ng Fat L
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6178254 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Ng Fat Linda L Shelton Nicola N Cable Noriko N
BMC public health 20181010 1
<h4>Background</h4>Non-drinking among young people has increased over the past decade in England, yet the underlying factor driving this change is unknown. Traditionally non-drinking has been found to be associated with lower socio-economic status and poorer health. This study explores among which sub-groups non-drinking has increased, and how this correlates with changes in drinking patterns, to identify whether behaviours are becoming more polarised, or reduction is widespread among young peop ...[more]