Alcohol and parenthood: An integrative analysis of the effects of transition to parenthood in three Australasian cohorts

Aims: To determine the extent to which the transition to parenthood protects against heavy and problematic alcohol consumption in young men and women. Design: Integrated participant-level data analysis from three population-based prospective Australasian cohort studies. Setting General community; participants from the Australian Temperament Study, the Christchurch Health and Development Study, and the Victorian Adolescent Health Cohort Study. Measurements: Recent binge drinking, alcohol abuse/dependence and number of standard drinks consumed per occasion. Findings: 4015 participants (2151 females; 54%) were assessed on four occasions between ages 21 and 35. Compared to women with children aged < 12 months, women who had not transitioned to parenthood were more likely to meet the criteria for alcohol abuse/dependence (fully adjusted risk ratio (RR) 3.5; 95% CI 1.5-7.9) and to report recent binge drinking (RR 3.0; 95% CI 2.1-4.3). The proportion of women meeting the criteria for alcohol abuse/dependence and/or binge drinking increased with the age of participants' youngest child, as did the mean number of standard drinks consumed on each occasion (1.8 if the youngest child was < 1 year of age vs. 3.6 for 5+ years of age). Associations between parenthood and male drinking behaviour were considerably weaker. Conclusions: For most women in their twenties and thirties, parenting a child < 1 year of age was associated with reduced alcohol consumption. However, this protective effect diminished after 12 months with drinking levels close to pm-parenthood levels after five years. There was little change in male drinking with the transition to parenthood.