Late-onset Problem Drinking in Older Adults (50+) V1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Late-onset Problem Drinking in Older Adults (50+): Psychosocial Characteristics and the role of Meaning and Purpose in Life.
IRAS ID
314610
Contact name
Kevin McInerney
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Derby
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
N/A, N/A
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 9 months, 1 days
Research summary
Elderly problem drinkers are comprised of two distinct sub-groups, early- and late-onset. Two-thirds of this population are early-onset, individuals who have a life-long history of problem drinking. Although there is a considerable body of work on early-onset drinkers, there is a limited amount of research on their late-onset counterparts. Late-onset problem drinkers are people who have drunk moderately and socially throughout their lives (or not at all), whose drinking can become problematic as they approach and enter later life. The proposed research aims to contribute towards a fuller understanding of this under-researched and vulnerable group of older problem drinkers. The Royal College of Psychiatrists have referred to this group as Our Invisible Addicts, because their problem drinking, is often overlooked or mistaken with other issues, more usually associated with older adults.
The limited research undertaken on this cohort indicates that late-onset drinking can be a reactive coping mechanism by some older adults, to stressful, late-life events, including bereavement/loss of a partner, retirement and pain. Additionally, there is a high prevalence of comorbid mental health disorders among elderly late-onset drinkers, who are thought to be suffering from a lack of meaning and purpose in their lives, resulting from the life-changing events outlined above. Moreover, research in this area indicates that late-onset problem drinkers tend to be more treatment compliant and have better health outcomes than early-onset problem drinkers. Furthermore, (re) discovering meaning and purpose in life is widely recognised as an important and valuable psychological component that can support their recovery. In conclusion, it is evident a gap exists in the literature regarding meaning and purpose in life in the context of late-onset AUD/problem drinking and subsequent recovery, the current study aims to bridge that gap.REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/YH/0116
Date of REC Opinion
31 May 2022
REC opinion
Unfavourable Opinion