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The Relation Between Frequency of Binge Drinking and Psychological Distress Among Older Adult Drinkers

Objectives: The present study examined the relation between past year frequency of binge drinking and psychological distress among older adult drinkers. Method: Data were obtained from the 2009 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS). Adults aged 60 and older who had consumed alcohol in the past year (n = 13,265) were analyzed. Psychological distress was assessed using the Kessler 6 (K6) scale. Multiple regression analyses were conducted. Results: A significant main effect of frequency of binge drinking was found in regression analyses, indicating that an increased frequency of binge drinking was significantly associated with increased psychological distress (B = .10, p < .001). Results from additional analyses showed that binge drinking was related to increased psychological distress when individuals were binge drinking more than once in the past year. Discussion: The results suggest that binge drinking frequently may be related to increased experiences of psychological distress among older drinkers. Research and clinical implications are discussed.