Review article

Characteristics of female drinking by age

Ana Kovač ; The Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Irma Kovčo Vukadin ; The Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences, Zagreb, Croatia
Zoran Zoričić ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center Sestre milosrdnice, Zagreb, Croatia
Mirna Peco ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center »Sestre milosrdnice«, Zagreb, Croatia
Vivian Andrea Vukić ; Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Center »Sestre milosrdnice«, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Alcohol dependence in women is a problem in the contemporary
society. The change of the traditional woman’s role is accompanied
by an increasing rate of women who abuse alcohol. It is therefore
necessary to create treatment and preventive interventions adjusted to
this population. Alcoholism in women differs greatly according to age
groups. Adolescents, young females, middle-aged women and older
women have different etiological factors underlying their drinking
problem. The characteristics and the drinking habits also differ greatly
in young and older women. For the period of adolescence, the most important
risk factors are behavioral problems, problems at school and
family history and environment. For women in young adulthood, the
most important risk factors are problems associated with the role and
health problems. For the women of older age, the most important are
widowhood and retirement issues. This article shows that the likelihood
of developing alcoholism increases as the risk factors become more numerous.
The above risk factors suggest the connection with the development
of alcohol dependence but do not prove causality.

Keywords

alcoholism in women; etiology; risk factors

Hrčak ID:

138647

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/138647

Publication date:

15.7.2014.

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