Affiliations: Social Medicine, Department of Public Health and
Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg,
Göteborg, Sweden | Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Department
of Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation/Occupational Therapy, Sahlgrenska
Academy at University of Gothenburg, Göteborg, Sweden
Note: [] Corresponding author: Annika Andersson, Social Medicine,
Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy at
University of Gothenburg, PO Box 453, SE- 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden. Tel.:
+46 3178 66817; Fax: +46 3116 2847; E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Leisure activities and drinking patterns are factors
that can affect health and ability to return to work after a sick-leave.
Associations between participation in leisure activities and binge drinking
among sick-listed individuals have been paid little attention in the research
literature. Objective: The aim of this study was to examine associations
between leisure activities and binge drinking in a sample of newly sick-listed
women and men. PARTICIPANTS: The study included 2,888 individuals aged 19–64
years. Methods: Cross-sectional questionnaire data from the Health Assets
Project, Sweden, was used. Participation in 18 leisure activities was
estimated. Binge drinking was defined as consuming alcohol at least once a
month, and typically consuming five or more glasses. RESULTS: Among women aged 19–30 years who regularly went to
concerts (OR 2.36) and wrote (OR 2.39) associations were found with binge
drinking. Lower OR was found among women aged 31–64 who regularly went to
the cinema (OR 0.43), out in the nature (OR 0.46) or participated in sports (OR
0.57). Among men, associations were found between socializing with friends and
binge drinking in both age groups (OR 3.83 respectively 1.63). Among younger
men who attended sporting events OR was 2.31, and among older men participating
in religious communities OR was 0.28. CONCLUSIONS: This study contributes to understanding the interplay
between leisure activities and health behavior. In particular, social
activities in men were associated with binge drinking while the opposite was
true for recreational activities in older women.
