Gender differences and gender convergence in alcohol use over the past three decades (1984–2008), The HUNT Study, Norway

Table 3 Gender differences^a and change in gender differences in alcohol abstaining^b in 10 year-age groups in proportions (%), gender ratios (men versus women) and ratio differences (HUNT1 versus HUNT2 versus HUNT3)

	1984-86 HUNT1 N = 61528			1995-97 HUNT2 N = 63349			2006-08 HUNT3 N = 48969			1984-2008 Change in gender difference^c
Age	W %	M %	M/W ratio	W %	M %	M/W ratio	W %	M %	M/W ratio	HUNT 1 versus 2	HUNT 2 versus 3
20-29	4	3	0,77	6	5	0,78	8	4	0,53	−0,01	0,25
30-39	7	4	0,55	6	4	0,73	8	4	0,44	−0,18	0,29
40-49	10	5	0,45	8	4	0,56	5	3	0,64	−0,11	−0,07
50-59	17	7	0,40	14	8	0,54	7	5	0,62	−0,14	−0,08
60-69	27	10	0,37	25	11	0,43	13	7	0,57	−0,06	−0,14
70-79	37	15	0,40	42	18	0,44	26	12	0,47	−0,03	−0,04
80+	45	21	0,47	49	27	0,55	39	21	0,53	−0,09	0,03
Total	17	7	0,42	17	8	0,50	11	6	0,55	−0,08	−0,05

^aAll gender differences by survey and age-group were statistically significant (P < .05)
^bAbstaining; H1 and H2 = those who reported total abstinence from alcohol; H3 = those who never in lifetime or ever during last year had consumed alcohol
^cGender ratio differences: positive change indicates divergence, and negative indicates convergence

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