Reasonable and moderate drinking is considered acceptable by the major portion of the population. Although women consume less alcohol than men, alcohol has a greater intoxicating effect for women than for men because of the differences in body water content and proportion of fatty tissue. The prevalence rate of drinking is virtually identical for…

Studies show that the percentage of women in the United States who drink, has remained stable over the last several decades. However, patterns in female drinking have changed, indicating a trend toward higher rates of heavy/frequent drinking among young women. Negative attitudes toward female intoxication still prevail and a double standard…

Reviews risk of psychosocial problems related to drinking among "grown-up" children of alcoholics. Argues that genetic predisposition is best predictor available; this may be more influential near severe end of alcoholism spectrum, may be less influential in females, and may lead to differences in symptomatology and management.…

Alcohol studies, like most psychological studies, have traditionally focused on males. Several psychosocial theories have been used to explain male alcoholism, including dependency, the power drive, and sex role theory. This latter stance may provide a theoretical framework for the etiology of drinking which will apply to both sexes; however,…

Investigates alcohol treatment among Alaska Natives. Time between age at diagnosis and first treatment was similar for men and women. Women were more likely to be parents and reported more contact with health and mental health providers. Among men, acting as a parent, lifetime depression, and type of professional consulted were significantly…

Reviews literature on marital status and well-being. Review finds little support for selection hypothesis which asserts that the relationship between marital status and well-being is spurious because emotional maturity explains both conditions. However, the evidence is consistent with protection/support hypothesis that a marital partner who…

Alcoholic women must receive treatment that considers psychological differences between men and women. The basic difference identified was the kinds of roles taken on by women compared to men's roles. Counselors must integrate women's individual experiences with experimental research to effectively help alcoholic women. (Author/JAC)

In the last few years, a vast amount of research has accumulated with respect to American children's use of legal and illicit drugs. This research has included cross-sectional studies (which have attempted to determine current drug usage, age of onset for each drug used, and maximum frequency of use in the lifetime); longitudinal studies (which…

Studies indicate men and women do not experience alcoholism in the same way, and female alcoholics are largely overlooked in planning treatment and evaluating its outcome. Neglect is compounded by sexist therapy. A review of the literature documents these points and suggests improvements in the treatment of alcoholic women. (Author)

While alcoholism and problem drinking is not as prevalent among women as men it nonetheless is a serious health concern, deserving greater attention. Investigation results comparing the consumption and problem drinking patterns of women with men finds that lower consumption rates among females cannot be explained by body weight as men drink more…

Analysis of Al-Anon and Adult Children of Alcoholics (ACOA) organizational literature shows women's articulation of and responses to the problems of codependence from the 1950s to the 1980s. Progressive appropriation of feminist ideals, a critique of the family, and a disease-based model of family dysfunction characterize understanding of…

Several theories of the alcoholic personality have been devised to determine the relationship between the clusters of personality characteristics of alcoholics and their abuse of alcohol. The oldest and probably best known theory is the dependency theory, formulated in the tradition of classical psychoanalysis, which associates the alcoholic's…