Gender differences in the relationship between heavy episodic drinking, social roles, and alcohol-related aggression in a U.S. sample of late adolescent and young adult drinkers

Abstract

To better understand alcohol-related aggression among late adolescent and young adult drinkers, the present research aimed to examine whether: 1) the relationship between heavy episodic drinking and alcohol-related aggression was different for males and females; and 2) social roles (marital and employment status, living arrangement, student status) influenced alcohol-related aggression. Secondary analyses of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth were conducted using a composite sample of drinkers aged 17 to 21 in 1994, 1996 and 1998 (n = 808). A stronger relationship was found between heavy episodic drinking and fights after drinking for females than for males. In terms of social roles, males who lived with their parents were more likely to fight after drinking than those living in their own dwelling, while females who dropped out of high school were significantly more likely to fight after drinking compared with college students. A gender focus is required in future research on alcohol-related aggression.