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

Table 4 Gender differences^a and change in gender differences in recent drinking^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 = 48802			1984-2008 Change in gender difference^c
Age groups	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	49	74	1,51	66	80	1,21	73	86	1,18	0,30	0,03
30-39	46	68	1,51	61	79	1,29	72	86	1,19	0,22	0,10
40-49	39	64	1,66	59	75	1,28	79	88	1,11	0,38	0,17
50-59	26	52	1,98	48	68	1,42	75	87	1,16	0,55	0,27
60-69	14	39	2,81	31	53	1,74	63	78	1,24	1.08	0,49
70-79	7	26	3,71	16	37	2,34	43	67	1,58	1.35	0,76
80+	3	17	5,14	8	23	2,84	27	47	1,74	2,30	1,07
Total	30	55	1,80	47	66	1,40	67	81	1,20	0,40	0,20

^aAll survey specific age-group gender differences were statistically significant (P < .05)
^bRecent drinking: H1 = At least one drinking occasion - past 14 days; In H2 and H3 those who reported at least one drinking occasion - past 4 weeks and simultaneously their usual amount of alcohol consumption during 2 weeks, were classified as recent drinkers
^cGender ratio differences: positive change indicates convergence and negative indicates divergence

ISSN: 1471-2458