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

Table 6 Gender differences¹ and change in gender differences in mean annual volume of alcohol (in liters a year) by 10 year-age groups of recent drinkers^a in gender ratios (men’s means versus women’s means) and ratio differences (HUNT2 versus HUNT3)

	1995-97 HUNT 2 N = 35692		2006-08 HUNT 3 N = 36322		HUNT 2	HUNT 3	1995-2008 Change in gender differnces^b
Age groups	W means	M means	W means	M means	M/W ratio	M/W ratio	HUNT 2 versus 3
20-29	1,75	3,54	2,18	3,89	2,02	1,78	0,24
30-39	1,47	2,67	1,47	2,78	1,82	1,89	−0,07
40-49	1,65	2,56	1,83	2,87	1,55	1,57	−0,02
50-59	1,67	2,49	1,96	2,93	1,49	1,49	0,00
60-69	1,41	2,29	1,78	2,63	1,62	1,48	0,15
70-79	1,34	2,07	1,50	2,25	1,54	1,50	0,04
80+	1,23	1,95	1,31	1,97	1,59	1,50	0,08
Total	1,59	2,66	1,80	2,83	1,67	1,57	0,10

¹All gender differences by survey and age-group were statistically significant (P < .05)
^aEstimates were based on recent drinkers who also reported any amounts of alcohol consumption
^bGender ratio differences: positive change indicates convergence and negative change indicates divergence

ISSN: 1471-2458