Document Type
Article
Publication Date
4-20-2024
Advisor
Jeannette Manger
Abstract
Background: Excessive alcohol consumption poses significant public health challenges, with complex socioeconomic factors influencing drinking behaviors. Understanding the relationship between socioeconomic determinants and excessive drinking patterns at the state and county levels is crucial for informing targeted interventions. Objective: To investigate the associations between excessive drinking (binge or heavy drinking) and socioeconomic factors, including median household income, mental health provider availability, health insurance coverage, educational attainment, and unemployment rates across counties in Ohio. Methods: We analyzed data from the 2023 County Health Rankings for 88 counties in Ohio. Spearman correlations were used to assess associations between excessive drinking and socioeconomic variables. Paired t-tests examined changes in excessive drinking from 2016 to 2022. Linear regression determined predictors of excessive drinking in 2022. Results: Excessive drinking showed a moderate positive correlation with median household income (ρ=0.435, p
Repository Citation
Barney, T., & Patel, D. (2024). Assessing Socioeconomic Patterns of Excessive Alcohol Consumption in Ohio: A County-Level Analysis. Wright State University. Dayton, Ohio.
