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To your health!: Re-examining the health benefits of moderate alcohol use

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  • Sayed, Bisma Ali
  • French, Michael T.

Abstract

Although excessive alcohol use and alcohol misuse contribute to a broad range of health problems, recent research indicates that moderate alcohol consumption may in fact be beneficial. The present study builds on previous research to investigate the associations between alcohol use and self-rated health status among young adults. Using data collected in 2008 from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health), we use ordered probit models to determine whether the protective effects of moderate alcohol use are present after controlling for demographic, lifestyle, family background, and health-related characteristics. Our findings generally support earlier research with older samples, but some key gender differences are present. For women (n = 8275), moderate drinkers have better self-rated health status relative to former drinkers, infrequent drinkers, and light drinkers. Among men (n = 7207), the effects are mixed and less often significant. Differences in results between men and women point to the need for further gender-specific research and studies with other measures of health.

Suggested Citation

  • Sayed, Bisma Ali & French, Michael T., 2016. "To your health!: Re-examining the health benefits of moderate alcohol use," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 20-28.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:167:y:2016:i:c:p:20-28
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.08.034
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Michael T. French & Ioana Popovici, 2011. "That instrument is lousy! In search of agreement when using instrumental variables estimation in substance use research," Health Economics, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 20(2), pages 127-146, February.
    2. Theodore Fuller, 2011. "Moderate Alcohol Consumption and the Risk of Mortality," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 48(3), pages 1105-1125, August.
    3. Mossey, J.M. & Shapiro, E., 1982. "Self-rated health: a predictor of mortality among the elderly," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 72(8), pages 800-808.
    4. Grodstein, F. & Goldman, M.B. & Cramer, D.W., 1994. "Infertility in women and moderate alcohol use," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 84(9), pages 1429-1432.
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    Cited by:

    1. Marco Caliendo & Juliane Hennecke, 2022. "Drinking is different! Examining the role of locus of control for alcohol consumption," Empirical Economics, Springer, vol. 63(5), pages 2785-2815, November.
    2. Isabela Maria MONTEIRO VIEIRA & Brenda Lohanny PASSOS SANTOS & Denise SANTOS RUZENE & Tomáš BRÁNYIK & José António TEIXEIRA & João Batista E DE ALMEIDA SILVA & Daniel PEREIRA SILVA, 2018. "Alcohol and Health: Standards of Consumption, Benefits and Harm - a Review," Czech Journal of Food Sciences, Czech Academy of Agricultural Sciences, vol. 36(6), pages 427-440.

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