Rural alcohol abuse

Abstract

One hundred and forty-eight rural males between the ages of 18 and 60 volunteered to be tested and were interviewed with a series of scales and background information items that were selected to predict alcohol abuse or nonabuse. The subjects were classified as Black abusers, Black nonabusers, White abusers, and White nonabusers. Major sections of the test and interview format included measures of achievement need, alienation, tolerance of deviance, leisure time, religious fundamentalism, general deviation, mobility, age, family size, and education. Criteria of abuse and nonabuse were based on interview information related to quantity consumed, circumstances for drinking, problems related to drinking, and a community estimate from references. Field research data across 32 Texas villages were used to develop recommendations for education, information, and treatment for strictly rural American areas. Analysis of variance methods identified significant differences between abusers and nonabusers on measures of tolerance of deviance, religious fundamentalism, general deviation, mobility, age, and education.