Markers of Adulthood and Drinking Behavior: What Types of Markers Matter, and When?

Introduction.  The decline in alcohol use across young adulthood is well documented. Adoption of adult roles (markers of adulthood) are related to this decline. Since the 2008 Great Recession, there has been an emerging trend in alternative living arrangements (e.g., with family) and a delay of adopting adult markers (e.g., steady employment). Relations of adulthood markers, and markers that delay adulthood, to alcohol use have seldom been examined in post-recession samples. The current study examines three important markers of adulthood (partnership, parenthood, and employment), and two markers of delayed adulthood (living with family or roommates), in relation to alcohol use over young adulthood.

Method. Data are from the National Epidemiologic Survey and Alcohol and Related Conditions Cohort III, a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults ages 18 and older collected in 2012-13. Data was restricted to non-students aged 22-35 (N=6556). Regression analysis and time-varying effect modeling (TVEMs) were used to examine age-varying influence of 3 detailed adulthood markers (partnership, parenthood, employment) and 2 delayed markers (living with roommates or family) on 2 alcohol use outcomes (frequency of any past-year drinking (FD), past-year weekly binge (WB) drinking).

Results. Marriage and cohabitation were negatively related to FD; effects were strongest in the early 20’s, and declined in strength over the late 20’s and early 30’s. Only marriage was negatively related to WB, and this effect remained consistent over young adulthood. For parenthood, the effect of having a young (ages 0-4) child in the house was negatively related to FD and WB. For FD, this effect decreased in strength starting in the early 30’s. For WB, the negative effect of having a young child in the house increased starting in the early 30’s. Employment (full and part time) was positively related to FD, and this effect increased starting at age 22 over time, particularly for blue-collar workers, such that the effect was strongest for those in their early 30’s. There was a positive effect of having a roommate for WB only, the strength of this effect started to decline in the early 30’s. Conversely, there was a positive effect of living with family members on WB that started in the early 30’s.

Conclusion. Findings suggest that influences of adulthood markers change over young adulthood, and differ based marker characteristics and particular alcohol use behavior. Additionally, markers delaying adulthood relate to more harmful drinking behavior; living with a roommate in early young adulthood and living with family in late young adulthood were both related to increased binge drinking, indicating possible points of intervention tailored to specific adult roles and ages.