ReviewAddictive behaviors reports2018
Understanding drinking among midlife men in the United Kingdom: A systematic review of qualitative studies.
Review in Addictive behaviors reports, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. An erratum has been issued. Cited by 14 papers.
What it found
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed.
- Validation of the Gambling Problem Recognition Scale.Journal of gambling studies · 2026Article
- Risky Drinking in Midlife Men: Insights From Australia's National Drug Strategy Household Survey.Drug and alcohol review · 2026Article
- Exploring othering and perceived harmful drinking contexts among risky drinkers: An arts-based focus group study.British journal of health psychology · 2025Article
- How do electronic personal health information technologies enhance obesity prevention behaviors? Examining the roles of obesity risk perception and body weight.BMC public health · 2025Article
- Trends in use of alcohol-free or low alcohol drinks in attempts to reduce alcohol consumption in Great Britain, 2020-2024: a population-based study.BMJ public health · 2025Article
- Problem Recognition as A Discrete Concept for Change Processes in Problematic Alcohol Use.Current addiction reports · 2025Review
- Cutting consumption without diluting the experience: Preferences for different tactics for reducing alcohol consumption among increasing-and-higher-risk drinkers based on drinking context.PLOS digital health · 2024Article
- Beyond femininity or masculinity: gender typologies and healthy eating in early adulthood.European journal of nutrition · 2024Article
- Gender differences in relations between social comparison, social support, and sleep disturbance among midlife and older adults.Health psychology and behavioral medicine · 2024Article
- Age- and Sex-Varying Associations Between Depressive Symptoms and Substance Use from Modal Ages 35 to 55 in a National Sample of U.S. Adults.Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research · 2023Article
- Local Inequalities in Health Behaviours: Longitudinal Findings from the Stockton-On-Tees Cohort Study.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Article
- Early life mental health and problematic drinking in mid-adulthood: evidence from two British birth cohorts.Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology · 2021Article
- "Have a little less, feel a lot better": Mixed-method evaluation of an alcohol intervention.Addictive behaviors reports · 2020Article
- Acceptability of chronic liver disease screening in a UK primary care setting: a qualitative evaluation.BMJ open · 2020Article
Corrections and comments
- Erratum issued
Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesThis study reviews qualitative research into the sociocultural meanings and subjective experiences that midlife men in the United Kingdom (UK) associate with their drinking. In the UK, average weekly alcohol consumption is highest among midlife men, and they are disproportionately affected by alcohol harm. There is increasing recognition that public health messages to support behaviour change must be based on an in-depth understanding of drinking motivations and experiences. STUDY DESIGN AND
methodsSystematic literature review of studies exploring motivations for and experiences of drinking among UK men aged 45-60 using qualitative methodology. Medline, PsycINFO and the Social Science Citation Index were used, along with manual searches of key journals, Google searches and a call for evidence. The Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool was used to quality-assess papers. Thematic synthesis was used to combine and analyse the data.
resultsFrom 5172 titles and abstracts (1995-2018), 11 publications were included, representing 6 unique studies. Five themes were identified: 'Drinking Motivations'; 'Drinking Justifications'; 'Drinking Strategies and Control'; 'Social Norms and Identity' and 'Harm'. Motivations for drinking among midlife men were associated with relaxation, socialising and maintenance of male friendships. They justified drinking as a choice and emphasised their ability to meet responsibilities, which they contrasted with 'problem drinkers'. Social norms governed drinking behaviours as an expression of masculinity.
conclusionThis review highlights the significance of the meanings and social importance of alcohol consumption among midlife men. Interventions using information and guidance should consider these when aiming to effectively influence the way this group drinks.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.