Parenthood’s impact on alcohol intake
A new international study with research led by Murdoch Children’s
Research Institute has found that while only little changes in drinking
patterns were reported in men becoming fathers, a dramatic reduction in
drinking levels is reported in women when they are pregnant. But those levels
in women seem to rise back to their original within five years from the time of
birth. led the research
The lead author of the paper Alcohol and parenthood which was published
in the Drug and Alcohol Dependence journal’s latest edition was Dr. Rohan
Borschmann who is a research fellow at the University of Melbourne. He said that the study followed the drinking habits
of more than 4,000 people from three longitudinal populations of different age
spectrums like the thirties, twenties, and even teens out of which one was from
New Zealand and two were from Australia.
Dr. Borschmann said that many or most mothers take who have children
aged under one take time out from drinking but don’t continue with it. He added
that they also returned to the previous drinking patterns almost the time when
their youngest child turns five. The research also found binge drinking by 15
percent of mothers with children aged five or above.
He further said that the focus of their finding lies in the way in which
both men and women learn to handle their drinking patterns during this time.
The reasons for the increase in women’s drinking levels between post-birth and
within five years are to be read and explored in the future.
While motherhood only impacts women and drives them to take a break from
drinking there was no effect visible from the male community even with
marriage, mortgage and kids. If people can reduce their drinking levels over
the first twelve months, a message from policy advisors and health
professionals showing that it can be prolonged can be sent said Dr. Borschmann.
He also said that reduced parental drinking benefits both the parent and
the child. The aim of the research was to find to what extent becoming a parent
motivates young men and women from problematic drinking habits, said MCRI's Dr. Rohan Borschmann, who is also a research fellow at the
University of Melbourne.
It was also noted that the subjects of the study were from the Victorian
Adolescent Health Cohort Study, the Christchurch Health and Development Study, and
the Australian Temperament Project.