Journal article
Does knowing about the long-term health effects of alcohol matter? Evidence from a university sample in Lebanon
Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit, Vol.27(4), pp.336-343
04/27/2021
DOI: 10.26719/EMHJ.20.113
PMID: 33955529
Abstract
Research linking awareness of health effects of alcohol and harmful alcohol drinking status is limited.
To investigate the association between awareness of long-term alcohol effects and alcohol use disorders.
University students aged 18-25 years (n = 1155) completed a self-filled survey. Participants were asked if they knew that alcohol causes: (1) problems in the liver; (2) cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus and breast; (3) damage to the heart; and (4) weakening of the immune system. Multinomial regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between awareness of long-term alcohol effects and alcohol drinking status, including Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition (DSM-5) alcohol use disorders.
One third (32.8%) were past-year drinkers and 18% screened positive for DSM-5 alcohol use disorders. Compared to past-year drinkers with no alcohol use disorders, non-past-year ever drinkers were twice as likely to know about the link between alcohol and cancers of the mouth, throat, oesophagus and breast. Past-year drinkers with an alcohol use disorders were less likely to know about this association. Non-past-year ever drinkers (vs past-year drinkers with no alcohol use disorders) were also 2.6 times more likely to know the alcohol liver risks.
There is a strong inverse relationship between awareness of the effects of alcohol and harmful consumption among young people, providing preliminary support for the protective nature of knowledge on alcohol drinking status. Efforts to increase public awareness of the long-term health effects of alcohol may be useful in reducing alcohol-related harm.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Does knowing about the long-term health effects of alcohol matter? Evidence from a university sample in Lebanon
- Creators
- Nicole Khauli - Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, United States of AmericaLilian A Ghandour - Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonSirine Anouti - Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonRima A Afifi - Department of Community and Behavioral Health, College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, United States of AmericaRima Nakkash - Department of Health Promotion and Community Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonAli Chalak - Department of Agriculture, Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonNasser Yassin - Department of Health Management and Policy, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, LebanonSilvia S Martins - Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, United States of America
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Eastern Mediterranean health journal = La revue de sante de la Mediterranee orientale = al-Majallah al-sihhiyah li-sharq al-mutawassit, Vol.27(4), pp.336-343
- DOI
- 10.26719/EMHJ.20.113
- PMID
- 33955529
- NLM abbreviation
- East Mediterr Health J
- ISSN
- 1020-3397
- eISSN
- 1687-1634
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/27/2021
- Academic Unit
- Injury Prevention Research Center; Community and Behavioral Health
- Record Identifier
- 9984214811302771
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