Trust in Institutions and Alcohol Consumption in Sweden
Author Information
Author(s): Johanna Ahnquist, Martin Lindström, Sarah P. Wamala
Primary Institution: Swedish National Institute of Public Health
Hypothesis
Low social capital defined as low institutional trust is associated with harmful alcohol consumption.
Conclusion
Lack of trust in institutions is associated with an increased likelihood of harmful alcohol consumption.
Supporting Evidence
- Low institutional trust was associated with increased likelihood of harmful alcohol consumption.
- Men with very low institutional trust had a 50% higher risk of harmful alcohol consumption.
- Women with very low institutional trust had a 48% higher risk of harmful alcohol consumption.
- The study used a large, representative sample of the Swedish population.
- Results remained significant after adjusting for various confounders.
Takeaway
If people don't trust their institutions, they might drink more alcohol. This study found that lower trust leads to higher alcohol consumption.
Methodology
Data from the 2006 Swedish National Survey of Public Health were analyzed using logistic regression.
Potential Biases
Self-reported data may be biased, and the non-response rate included a large proportion of men and socially disadvantaged individuals.
Limitations
The cross-sectional design limits causal conclusions, and the non-response rate may lead to underestimation of harmful alcohol consumption.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 26,305 men and 30,584 women aged 16–84 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.34–1.70 for men, 95% CI 1.35–1.66 for women
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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