Final published version
Licence: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Problem drinking recognition among UK military personnel
T2 - prevalence and associations
AU - Spanakis, Panagiotis
AU - Gribble, Rachael
AU - Stevelink, Sharon A M
AU - Rona, Roberto J
AU - Fear, Nicola T
AU - Goodwin, Laura
PY - 2023/2/28
Y1 - 2023/2/28
N2 - Purpose: Despite the higher prevalence of problem drinking in the UK military compared to the general population, problem recognition appears to be low, and little is known about which groups are more likely to recognise a problem. This study examined prevalence of problem drinking recognition and its associations. Methods: We analysed data from 6400 regular serving and ex-serving personnel, collected in phase 3 (2014–2016) of the King's Centre for Military Health Research cohort study. Measurements: Participants provided sociodemographic, military, health and impairment, life experiences, problem drinking, and problem recognition information. Problem drinking was categorised as scores ≥ 16 in the AUDIT questionnaire. Associations with problem recognition were examined with weighted logistic regressions. Findings: Among personnel meeting criteria for problem drinking, 49% recognised the problem. Recognition was most strongly associated (ORs ≥ 2.50) with experiencing probable PTSD (AOR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.64–5.07), social impairment due to physical or mental health problems (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI = 1.51–4.79), adverse life events (AOR = 2.84, 95% CI = 1.70–4.75), ever being arrested (AOR = 2.99, CI = 1.43–6.25) and reporting symptoms of alcohol dependence (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI = 2.33–5.82). To a lesser extent, recognition was also statistically significantly associated with experiencing psychosomatic symptoms, feeling less healthy, probable common mental health disorders, and increased scores on the AUDIT. Conclusion: Half of UK military personnel experiencing problem drinking does not self-report their drinking behaviour as problematic. Greater problem drinking severity, poorer mental or physical health, and negative life experiences facilitate problem recognition.
AB - Purpose: Despite the higher prevalence of problem drinking in the UK military compared to the general population, problem recognition appears to be low, and little is known about which groups are more likely to recognise a problem. This study examined prevalence of problem drinking recognition and its associations. Methods: We analysed data from 6400 regular serving and ex-serving personnel, collected in phase 3 (2014–2016) of the King's Centre for Military Health Research cohort study. Measurements: Participants provided sociodemographic, military, health and impairment, life experiences, problem drinking, and problem recognition information. Problem drinking was categorised as scores ≥ 16 in the AUDIT questionnaire. Associations with problem recognition were examined with weighted logistic regressions. Findings: Among personnel meeting criteria for problem drinking, 49% recognised the problem. Recognition was most strongly associated (ORs ≥ 2.50) with experiencing probable PTSD (AOR = 2.86, 95% CI = 1.64–5.07), social impairment due to physical or mental health problems (AOR = 2.69, 95% CI = 1.51–4.79), adverse life events (AOR = 2.84, 95% CI = 1.70–4.75), ever being arrested (AOR = 2.99, CI = 1.43–6.25) and reporting symptoms of alcohol dependence (AOR = 3.68, 95% CI = 2.33–5.82). To a lesser extent, recognition was also statistically significantly associated with experiencing psychosomatic symptoms, feeling less healthy, probable common mental health disorders, and increased scores on the AUDIT. Conclusion: Half of UK military personnel experiencing problem drinking does not self-report their drinking behaviour as problematic. Greater problem drinking severity, poorer mental or physical health, and negative life experiences facilitate problem recognition.
KW - Armed forces
KW - UK military
KW - Problem recognition
KW - Alcohol use disorder
KW - Problem drinking
U2 - 10.1007/s00127-022-02306-x
DO - 10.1007/s00127-022-02306-x
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 35661230
VL - 58
SP - 193
EP - 203
JO - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
JF - Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
SN - 0933-7954
IS - 2
ER -