PH 290 October 1990 Alcohol and Women Much of our knowledge of alcoholism has been gathered from studies conducted with a predominance of male subjects.
Recent studies involving more female subjects reveal that drinking differs between men and women.
Studies in the general population indicate that fewer women than men drink. Drinking behavior differs with the age, life role, and marital status of women. Women who have never married or who are divorced or separated are more likely to drink heavily and experience alcohol-related problems than women who are married or widowed. Unmarried women living with a partner are more likely still to engage in heavy drinking and to develop drinking problems. They reported that, among women, marital status appears to modify the effects of genetic factors that influence drinking habits.