Predictors of alcoholism in the Lundby study

Summary

In 1957 all inhabitants (2,612) in a delimited geographical area, Lundby, were examined by a psychiatrist, and social factors were evaluated for each individual. During the following 15 years 58 men became alcoholics. Among the men who in 1957 were in the age group 0–14 years and belonged to a ‘gang’, the risk of becoming an alcoholic was 100-fold increased. ‘Gang’ was also an important factor in the age group 15–24 years. ‘Crisis’ was an important factor among those over 14, and ‘disintegrated environment’ in the age group 25–59 years. In the latter age group occupations such as ‘entrepreneur’, became important as a precipitating factor. ‘Married’ was the only protective factor found.