Alcohol, gender, aggression and violence: findings from the Birmingham Untreated Heavy Drinkers Project

This paper examines the relationship between heavy drinking and aggression using quantitative and qualitative data from a Department of Health funded interview study of untreated heavy drinkers living in the largely urban English West Midlands region (n = 403). Interviews consisted of a combination...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of substance use 2006-10, Vol.11 (5), p.343-358
Main Authors: Rolfe, Alison, Dalton, Sue, Krishnan, Mya, Orford, Jim, Mehdikhani, Mani, Cawley, James, Ferrins-Brown, Maria
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aggression
Alcohol
Gender
Heavy drinking
Qualitative research
Quantitative research
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Summary:This paper examines the relationship between heavy drinking and aggression using quantitative and qualitative data from a Department of Health funded interview study of untreated heavy drinkers living in the largely urban English West Midlands region (n = 403). Interviews consisted of a combination of forced choice questions and semi-structured discussion. Quantitative data showed high levels of verbal aggression, serious arguments and fights. Significant associations were found between alcohol-related aggression, lower age, number of very heavy drinking days and lower socio-economic status. Thematic analysis of qualitative data showed that participants considered alcohol to be heavily implicated in aggressive behaviour, but differences exist between quantitative and qualitative findings in terms of the importance of gender. Participants associated aggression with masculinity and youth, but violence involving women and domestic violence were rarely discussed.
ISSN:1465-9891
1475-9942
DOI:10.1080/14659890600677487