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Religion, Alcohol Use and Risk Drinking Among Canadian Adults Living in Ontario

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Abstract

This research examines (1) the association between risk drinking and religious affiliation and (2) differences between religions for risk drinking among adults living in Ontario, Canada, for Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, other religious groups and the non-religious. Data are based on telephone interviews with 16,596 respondents and are derived from multiple cycles (2005–2011) of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH) Monitor survey, an ongoing cross-sectional survey of adults in Ontario, Canada, aged 18 years and older. Data were analysed using bivariate cross-tabulations, Mann–Whitney U nonparametric test and logistic regression. Alcohol use and risk drinking occur among members of all religious groups; however, the rate of drinking ranges widely. Risk drinking is significantly associated with religion. When compared to the No religion/Atheist group, several religious groups (Baptist, Christian, Hindu, Jehovah’s Witness, Jewish, Muslim/Islam, Non-denominational, Pentecostal, Sikh and Other religion) in our sample have significantly lower odds of risk drinking. Risk drinkers also attended significantly fewer services among several religions. Results suggest that there are differences in the risk drinking rates among Canadian adults, living in Ontario, by religion. It appears that religious traditions of prohibition and abstention do hold sway among Canadian adults for some religious groups.

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Notes

  1. The CAMH Monitor employs American Association of Public Opinion Research (AAPOR) eligibility-adjusted response rate calculation (see Ialomiteanu and Adlaf 2012 for more information).

  2. Note: The low-risk drinking guidelines measure was not asked in 2010.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Health Equity, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell St., Toronto, ON, M5S 2S1, Canada

    Andrew Tuck & Branka Agic

  2. Population Health and Community Transformation (PHACT), Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell St., Toronto, ON, Canada

    Margaret Robinson, Anca R. Ialomiteanu & Robert E. Mann

  3. Indigenous Studies, Sociology and Social Anthropology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

    Margaret Robinson

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  1. Andrew Tuck
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  2. Margaret Robinson
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Correspondence to Andrew Tuck.

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Tuck, A., Robinson, M., Agic, B. et al. Religion, Alcohol Use and Risk Drinking Among Canadian Adults Living in Ontario. J Relig Health 56, 2023–2038 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-016-0339-z

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