Parenthood and longitudinal changes in alcohol use: findings from two cohort studies

Abstract Aim The transition to parenthood is a significant life event that can influence various aspects of individuals’ lives, including alcohol consumption patterns in the long term. This study examines alcohol use changes in relation to parenthood in two Finnish cohorts. Subject and methods Data were derived from two follow-up studies: Stress, development and mental health (TAM) (ages 16, 22, 32, 42, and 52) and the FinnTwin16 cohort (ages 16, 18, 25, and 35). We used generalized linear mixed models to examine the association between parenthood years and alcohol use from adolescence to mid-adulthood. Frequent alcohol use (FAU) and heavy episodic drinking (HED) were examined separately. Results Frequent alcohol use increased with age in both cohorts, while heavy episodic drinking peaked in late adolescence among women and in young adulthood among men. Prior to parenthood, alcohol use was generally lower in the earlier years and increased as the transition to parenthood approached in FinnTwin16. Heavy episodic drinking declined in the early years following the transition to parenthood, while frequent alcohol use remained stable. In both women and men, long-term increases in alcohol use were observed around 7 years after becoming a parent. Differences between parents and non-parents were minimal. Conclusion These findings suggest that parenthood is associated in particular with short-term reductions in heavy episodic drinking, but that overall alcohol use tends to increase over time.