A recent study published in the journal Addictive Behaviors provides evidence that the relationship between alcohol use and future anxiety depends significantly on a person’s age and how they consume alcohol. The findings indicate that while consuming larger amounts of alcohol per occasion predicts slightly higher anxiety levels in most adults, drinking more frequently but in smaller amounts is linked to slightly lower anxiety in older populations.
Scientific literature has established a robust link between alcohol consumption and physical health issues, such as liver disease and cardiovascular problems. However, the connection between drinking and psychological conditions, particularly anxiety, is much less understood. Existing evidence often appears contradictory. Some past inquiries found that alcohol use leads to increased anxiety, while others found no link or even a decrease in symptoms.
A potential reason for these mixed results is that previous work often combined different drinking habits into broad categories, such as “heavy” versus “low volume” consumption. This approach misses the nuance between drinking a small amount often versus drinking a large amount at once. The researchers aimed to separate these behaviors to see if the frequency of drinking and the quantity consumed predict anxiety differently. They also sought to determine if these patterns vary based on demographic factors like sex, age, and income level.
“It’s really strange how little is done on the long-term impacts of alcohol on anxiety given all the research on alcohol which is out there. It helps us understand if alcohol is a good means of self-medicating anxiety or whether it actually induces anxiety over time,” said study author Simon D’Aquino, a clinical psychologist.
To investigate this, the researchers analyzed data from the Household, Income, and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) survey. This is a large, nationally representative study that tracks the same individuals over many years. The final sample included 21,405 Australian adults who provided data between 2006 and 2021. This longitudinal design allowed the scientists to look at how behaviors in one year influenced mental health in the following year.
The survey measured anxiety using the Kessler-10 anxiety subscale. This is a widely used screening tool that asks participants how often they felt nervous, restless, or hopeless in the past four weeks. Alcohol patterns were assessed by asking participants two specific questions. First, they reported how many days per week they drank alcohol, which established the frequency. Second, they reported how many standard drinks they usually consumed on those days, which established the quantity. A standard drink was defined as containing 10 grams of alcohol.
The researchers used complex statistical models to examine the data. They looked at whether a person’s drinking habits in a given year could predict their anxiety levels one year later. These models accounted for individual differences and adjusted for other variables. The analysis included up to eight pairs of year-to-year data per participant, providing a comprehensive view of changes over time.
The analysis revealed that the relationship between alcohol and anxiety is generally small but statistically significant. Age emerged as a key factor influencing this dynamic, while sex and income did not significantly change the outcome. This means that men and women, as well as rich and poor, showed similar patterns, but young adults and older adults did not.
“I was surprised the relationship varies with age and not gender. I thought women would be susceptible to stronger effects due to lower blood volume, but it might suggest the mechanisms here are not biological.”
For adults aged 51 and older, drinking more frequently was associated with a slight decrease in anxiety scores one year later. This finding aligns with some previous studies on older populations. However, for this same age group, consuming larger quantities of alcohol on a single occasion was linked to increased anxiety. This suggests a divergence in outcomes based on drinking style for older adults.
A different pattern appeared for adults between the ages of 26 and 50. In this group, drinking larger amounts per sitting predicted higher anxiety. This provides evidence that heavier drinking sessions may have negative long-term impacts on mental well-being for mid-life adults. Unlike the older group, the frequency of drinking showed no significant association with anxiety for those aged 26 to 50.
For the youngest group, those aged 18 to 25, the researchers found no significant link between drinking habits and future anxiety. This lack of association might be due to the social context of drinking in early adulthood. Heavy episodic drinking is often more normative and socially accepted in this age bracket. It is possible that the negative psychological effects of alcohol take longer to manifest or are masked by the social nature of drinking during these formative years.
“There aren’t large effects of alcohol on your long term anxiety, but drinking heavily to manage anxiety or other moods will likely make the mood worse,” D’Aquino told PsyPOst. “I think it also highlights that alcohol can have a constructive psychosocial role in our lives too if consumed in small volumes (i.e. a single standard drink each day).”
The researchers propose several explanations for why frequent, low-quantity drinking might be linked to lower anxiety in older adults. It is possible that for this demographic, having a drink is often tied to social activities. As people age, they are at higher risk for loneliness and social isolation. If frequent drinking occurs in the context of socializing with friends or family, the benefits of social connection could be what buffers against anxiety, rather than the alcohol itself.
On the other hand, the finding that larger quantities per occasion predict higher anxiety across most of adulthood supports the idea of a reciprocal relationship. Heavier drinking can disrupt brain chemistry and sleep patterns, which may worsen anxiety symptoms over time. This creates a cycle where anxiety might increase, potentially leading to more drinking, though this specific study only looked at alcohol predicting future anxiety.
But it is important to note that this study is observational. This means it cannot prove that alcohol causes changes in anxiety levels. There may be other unmeasured factors at play. For instance, nicotine use often overlaps with alcohol consumption and is known to affect anxiety, but it was not included in this specific analysis.
“It’s important to note this doesn’t demonstrate that alcohol causes changes in anxiety,” D’Aquino explained. “It’s very possible there are indirect routes through which alcohol consumption affects anxiety such as changes in social environment.”
Future research should aim to replicate these findings in other countries to see if the results hold true outside of the Australian context. The researchers also suggest investigating the mechanisms behind why frequent, low-dose drinking seems protective for older adults. Clarifying whether this is due to biological factors or social benefits would help refine public health guidelines.
“I have more research coming out soon to help explain why older people tend to experience anxiety reductions with more frequent drinking,” D’Aquino said. “I have a suspicion that it helps older people socially bond at a time of life when loneliness typically increases.”
The study, “Alcohol consumption patterns and Long-Term Anxiety: The influence of Sex, Age, and income,” was authored by Simon D’Aquino, Benjamin Riordan, Megan Cook, and Sarah Callinan.
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