Are baby boomer women unique? The moderating effect of birth cohort on age in substance use patterns during midlife

Stephanie Elias Sarabia, James I. Martin

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

This study examined the relationships of age to use of alcohol, marijuana, and illicit drugs, and misuse of prescription drugs, among midlife women and whether these relationships are modified by birth cohort. Structural Equation Modeling was used to analyze National Survey on Drug Use and Health data, which included 2,035 baby boomer and silent generation cohort women, ages 30 to 55. Midlife women across cohorts reduced alcohol and marijuana use, but not illicit and prescription drug misuse, as they aged. A modifying effect of birth cohort was not supported, but findings did support differential aging effects across substances. Implications are discussed.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)150-160
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Women and Aging
Volume28
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 3 2016

Keywords

  • Alcohol
  • baby boomers
  • cohort
  • illicit drugs
  • midlife
  • prescription drugs
  • women

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Gender Studies
  • Geriatrics and Gerontology

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