Introduction: Australian midlife men have been identified as having a greater likelihood of exceeding the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Alcohol Guideline recommendations for adults compared to midlife women (defined as risky drinking). Despite this, there is a paucity of research investigating the factors associated with risky drinking for midlife men to inform preventive health efforts. This study investigates these factors and how they may differ between younger and older midlife men.
Methods: Secondary data analysis was conducted using the 2019 and 2022/23 waves of the National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS). Data for midlife men (aged 30-59 years) were analysed, yielding a sample of n=6,471, comprising younger (aged 30-44 years, n=3,311) and older (aged 45-59 years, n=3,160) midlife age groups. Associations between behavioural, psychological and demographic factors and risky drinking, and interactions with midlife age groups were examined using chi-square and multivariable logistic regression analyses.
Results: Overall, 42.9% of midlife men reported risky drinking. Past year tobacco (OR= 1.70, CI= 1.35-2.14) and illicit/non-medicinal drug use (OR= 3.54, CI= 2.92-4.31), residing in Rural/Remote/Regional locations (OR= 1.76, CI= 1.48-2.11), higher psychological distress scores (OR= 1.37, CI= 1.05-1.79), working managerial (OR= 1.48, CI= 1.14-1.91) or tech/trade (OR= 1.48, CI= 1.17-1.87) occupations, and higher household earnings (OR= 1.70, CI= 1.41-2.06) were all significantly associated with risky drinking. Greater psychological distress scores were significantly associated with risky drinking among younger (OR= 0.49, CI= 0.32-0.75), but not older midlife men, while being married/defacto relationship was significantly associated with risky drinking among older (OR= 1.55, CI= 1.01-2.39), but not younger midlife men.
Discussion and Conclusion: This study highlights a range of modifiable and non-modifiable factors that may inform the development of future preventive health policy and practice strategies to this high prevalence group.