This proposal presents a research design to examine degree of alcohol usage in a sample of elderly females ages 62 through 76 years. Further, the proposed research will also examine for differences between high and low alcohol usage subjects in association with several demographic variables (marital status, age, yearly income, and educational level). Among the topics discussed in the proposal are the general significance of the study, sample selection procedures, instrumentation, and the data analysis plan.
According to Barocas, Reichman and Schwebel (1989), the percentage of elderly people (65+) in the United States has more than doubled since 1900. And, although the modern-day elderly are healthier than in previous eras, they nonetheless are beset by a variety of health care concerns including depression, anxiety and many chronic illnesses (Barocas, Reichman & Schwebel, 1989).
One source of concern regarding the health (both physical and emotional) of older Americans is alcoholism. In this regard, the National Institute of Drug Abuse (1991) has reported that while the highest levels of alcohol abuse exist among young adults, it is believed that a substantial proportion of older persons are problem drinkers.
The report notes that estimating the alcohol usage patterns of older adults has been difficult for several reasons. First, some of the elderly (especially females) hide their drinking. A second reason for difficulty in estimating alcohol usage patterns among the elderly is the tendency for some health care professionals to erroneously attribute the effects of alcoholism to the debilitative consequences of older age (National Institute of Drug Abuse, 1991).
These difficulties mean that alcohol usage patterns among aged populations, especially the female aged, may not be fully known. What is needed, therefore, is continuing research examining alcohol usage in older populations.
The purpose of the proposed s...