Alcoholism in girls: A theoretical framework

Pages: 1160-1162
Sangeeta Trama and Omna (Department of Psychology, Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)

Drinking by college-aged students remains a major issue. Results of recent research that have demonstrated that brain development continues well into early adulthood and that alcohol consumption can interfere with such development (Room, Babor, & Rehm, 2005; Murray & Lopez, 1997) indicate that alcohol use by youth is an even greater pediatric health concern. Studies done in the late 1970s and early 1980s found that 12.7% of high school students, 32.6% of university students, and 31.6% of young non-students consumed alcohol. In India, with special reference to Punjab, girls are into alcoholism. Going to clubs, discs etc. have become a trend among young girls. Drinking and partying provides a false sense of liberation and empowerment. In addition, research shows that having male friends increases the risk of alcohol use; spending time with boys makes girls feel more comfortable with sensation seeking and contributes to more adult-like precocious behavior. Girls find that alcohol has a disinhibiting effect that enhances their perception of being more confident, increases social comfort, and offers feelings of being sexually alluring. Moreover, for many college age girls, living on campus is often their first time away from home without constant supervision. Many girls take on drinking because they are separated from previous support systems and have new peers they are trying to impress. Young adult girls are facing forceful drinking due to their relationship partner demands to be like this. Thus present paper reflects upon the issue of alcoholism in girls and the factors that may lead to alcoholism.