Publication: The effect of asset-based wealth inequality on problem drinking among rural Thai elders: A prospective population-based cohort study
Issued Date
2014-01-01
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ISSN
18735347
02779536
02779536
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2-s2.0-84892522337
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Social Science and Medicine. Vol.100, (2014), 107-114
Suggested Citation
Tawanchai Jirapramukpitak, Melanie Abas, Kanchana Tangchonlatip, Sureeporn Punpuing The effect of asset-based wealth inequality on problem drinking among rural Thai elders: A prospective population-based cohort study. Social Science and Medicine. Vol.100, (2014), 107-114. doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2013.09.025 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/33190
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Title
The effect of asset-based wealth inequality on problem drinking among rural Thai elders: A prospective population-based cohort study
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Abstract
Evidence on the link between income inequality and alcohol-related problems is scarce, inconclusive and dominated by studies from the developed world. The use of income as a proxy measure for wealth is also questionable, particularly in developing countries. The goal of the present study is to explore the contextual influence of asset-based wealth inequality on problem drinking among Thai older adults. A population-based cohort study with a one-year follow-up was nested in a Demographic Surveillance System (DSS) of 100 villages in western Thailand. Data were drawn from a random sample of 1104 older residents, aged 60 or over (one per household) drawn from all 100 villages, of whom 982 (89%) provided problem drinking data at follow-up. The primary outcome measure was a validated Thai version of the Alcohol-Used Disorder Identification Test for problem drinking. Living in areas of high wealth inequality was prospectively associated with a greater risk for problem drinking among older people (adjusted odds ratio 2.30, 95% confidence intervals 1.02-5.22), after adjusting for individual-level and village-level factors. A rise in wealth inequality over the year was also independently associated with an increased risk of problem drinking (adjusted odds ratio 2.89, 95% confidence intervals 1.24-6.65). The associations were not explained by the social capital, status anxiety or psychosocial stress variables. The data suggest that wealth inequality and an increase in inequality across time lead to a greater risk of problem drinking. Efforts should be directed towards reducing gaps and preventing large jumps in inequality in the communities. Further research should investigate the effect of asset-based inequality on various health risk behaviors and its specific mediating pathways. © 2013 The Authors.