Association of Occupational Trajectories With Alcohol Use Disorders in a Longitudinal National Survey

Objectives: We investigated longitudinal associations between occupation and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) across early- to mid-adult life. Methods: Longitudinal trajectories of work substantive complexity were constructed by growth mixture modeling of occupational data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 and O*NET work variables. The association between work trajectories and AUDs was modeled adjusting for education. Results: Lower work trajectories were associated with higher AUD prevalence and incidence. Incident AUDs were associated with a subsequent decline in work trajectory class for both high and low initial classes, more strongly in women despite lower overall AUD incidence. Conclusions: Low work trajectory is associated with increased AUD prevalence. Development of an AUD may presage risk of decline in work substantive complexity. These findings suggest reinforcing relations between the development of AUD and occupational course at midlife.