British Journal of Addiction (1992) 87, 931-935
NEW DATA NOTE SERIES—5
Family history of alcoholism in the United States: prevalence and demographic characteristics THOMAS C. HARFORD National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Division of Biometry and Epidemiology, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 14C-26, Rockville, MD 20879, USA The Data Notes Series is edited by Dr Bridget Grant, Chief of Biometry of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Abstract National estimates of the prevalence of family history for alcoholism in the USA were investigated using a general population sample of 43809 respondents 18 years of age and older. Approximately 38% of the total sample reported a positive history for alcoholism. Positive reports were highest for Native Americans and lowest for Asian Americans.
Introduction Alcoholism has long been considered a problem that runs in families, affecting those with ties to the alcoholic in terms of economic, caretaking, and psychological and physical abuse. The incidence of alcoholism is significantly higher among relatives of alcoholics than among relatives of non-alcoholics, even when the non-alcoholics have a psychiatric history.' Adoption studies have indicated a risk of alcoholism among offspring of alcoholics that is several times higher than among offspring of nonalcoholics, suggesting a genetic factor in its etiology.^"'' While the adoption method enables a dual assessment of both genetic and environmental factors, only a few such studies have been undertaken. As an alternative, a number of studies have selected non-alcoholic populations which vary in their risk for alcoholism (i.e. children of alcoholics). While these studies cannot disentangle genetic from environmental factors they have contributed important information on the cognitive, emotional, and behavioural characteristics of those at risk for alcoholism.' Most of these studies, however, draw upon volunteers or those in treatment and are not
representative samples in the general population. This report presents recent national estimates regarding the prevalence of a family history for alcoholism in the USA which updates previous national data by almost a decade.' Because both the consumption of alcohol and other alcohol-related problems vary for subgroups of the population,'' the demographic characteristics of reports for family alcoholism are also examined.
Method The information provided in this report draws upon data from the 1988 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The NHIS utilized a complex, multistage sample design that oversamples for Blacks in order to obtain adequate numbers for analysis.^ Because the sample is stratified and clustered, and features unequal probabilities of selection, standard errors for tests of the statistical differences between proportions were estimated using statistical software that takes into account these survey design characteristics.' A total of
931
932
Thomas C. Harford
43 809 interviews were obtained from one randomly selected adult 18 years of age or older from each selected NHIS household, with an overall response rate of 85.5%. Respondents were asked if any of their relatives have been alcoholics or problem drinkers at any time during their lives. Respondents were not provided with formal criteria of alcoholism or problem drinking and it is not known how they decided that their relatives were alcoholics or problem drinkers. Hereafter, the terms problem drinkers and alcoholics will be subsumed under the term alcoholics. Because alcoholism in multiple generations indicates a relatively high genetic loading for the risk of developing alcoholism in the future,'" and because reports of family history may vary according to degree of exposure to alcoholism and numerous other factors, individuals were categorized into one of four mutually exclusive groups: (1) family history negative with no biological relatives reported as problem drinkers or alcoholics; (2) family history positive including alcoholism in only second-degree and/or third-degree blood relatives; (3) family history positive including alcoholism in only firstdegree blood relatives; and (4) family history positive including alcoholism in first-degree and second-degree and/or third-degree blood relatives.
Following the presentation of prevalence estimates for family history by gender and age, estimates are provided for race, Hispanic origin, marital status, education, and income. These estimates are age-adjusted for each gender group. It is not possible, in this brief report, to describe patterns of family history by each degree affected and by the demographic factors which are presented tabularly. Rather, attention will be directed to overall estimates of positive family history.
Results Prevalence estimates for family history by gender and age are shown in Table 1. Nearly 38% of the total sample reported a positive history for alcoholism—(36.1% of men and 38.8% of women). The higher prevalence among women compared to men occurs primarily for first-degree relatives (24.5% for women and 20.5% for men) vs seconddegree and/or third-degree relatives (14.3% for women and 15.5% for men). Although there is no clear interpretation for this finding, men, in view of their greater overall consumption, may be applying stricter definitions of problem drinking and alcoholism.'
Table 1. Percentage distribution offamily history for alcoholism by gender and age Family history negative Gender and age Both sexes 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 + 18 + Men 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 +
18 + Women 18-29 30-44 45-64
65 + 18 +
2nd and/or 3rd degree irelatives only
1st degree relatives only
1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd degree relatives
%'
SE
%
SE
%
SE
%
SE
Sample size (n)
59.7 57.6 64.0 74.4 62.5
0.56 0.48 0.56 0.55 0.32
19.4 16.3 12.2 8.6 14.8
0.45 0.34 0.35 0.35 0.21
11.7 16.9 16.3 12.8 14.7
0.37 0.35 0.41 0.43 0.21
9.1 9.2 7.4 4.1 7.9
0.31 0.28 0.28 0.24 0.16
10430 13844 10657 8878 43 809
62.2 59.9 65.9 73.3 63.9
0.88 0.68 0.76 0.88 0.41
19.4 17.0 12.8 9.6 15.5
0.71 0.50 0.51 0.57 0.31
11.1 15.5 15.0 13.2 13.8
0.56 0.49 0.56 0.70 0.30
7.4 7.6 6.4 3.8 6.7
0.45 0.37 0.38 0.36 0.21
4411 6110 4745 3077 18343
57.3 55.4 62.3 75.2 61.2
0.72 0.65 0.76 0.66 0.40
19.5 15.7 11.8 7.9 14.3
0.57 0.45 0.50 0.40 0.26
12.4 18.2 17.6 12.6 15.5
0.48 0.48 0.57 0.50 0.27
10.8 10.7 8.4 4.3 9.0
0.44 0.40 0.39 0.30 0.21
6019 7734 5912 5801 25466
Prevalence estimates are reported as weighted percentages.
Family history of alcoholism in the USA
933
Table 2. Percentage distribution offamily history for alcoholism by selected demographic characteristics among men Family history negative Demographic characteristic
2nd and/or 3rd degree relatives only
1st degree relatives only
1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd degree relatives
%'
SE
%
SE
%
SE
%
SE
Sample size (n)
Race Aleut, Eskimo or American Indian Asian/Pacific Islander Black (ind. Hispanics) White (incl. Hispanics) All races
53.9 87.7 66.0 63.2 64.1
4.74 2.52 1.30 0.44 0.41
11.0 5.0 14.6 15.9 15.4
2.74 1.45 0.95 0.33 0.30
21.5 6.4 13.8 14.0 13.8
4.16 2.06 0.83 0.32 0.30
13.7 0.8 5.5 6.9 6.6
;>.97 0.50 0.57 0.23 0.21
141 346 2170 15 475 18132
Hispanic origin Puerto Rican Cuban Mexican-Mexican Mexican-American Other Hispanic All Hispanic
69.4 90.8 77.2 64.6 73.8 73.0
4.67 3.49 3.27 2.71 2.93 1.55
12.9 0.7 9.5 13.4 9.5 10.1
3.65 0.76 2.10 1.91 1.97 1.01
14.1 5.6 9.8 12.7 12.6 11.5
3.08 2.76 2.33 2.06 2.28 1.06
3.6 2.8 3.5 9.2 4.0 5.4
.48 .74 .12 .89 .14 0.75
114 84 271 318 289 1076
Marital status Married Widowed Divorced Separated Never married All categories
62.4 73.2 60.4 62.8 68.3 64.2
0.54 7.93 1.65 2.75 1.12 0.41
15.8 12.1 17.3 13.2 15.3 15.3
0.41 7.09 1.36 1.65 0.82 0.30
14.7 11.5 15.1 15.7 11.2 13.8
0.41 3.47 1.09 2.11 0.72 0.30
7.1 3.3 7.2 8.2 5.1 6.6
0.28 .26 0.88 .48 0.47 0.21
11137 819 1710 466 4196 18328
Education Less than 12 years 12 years More than 12 years All levels
62.9 64.1 65.0 64,2
1.07 0.66 0.62 0.41
12.8 15.2 16.6 15.4
0.73 0.49 0.48 0.30
16.1 14.5 12.1 13.8
0.75 0.48 0.46 0.30
8.2 6.2 6.2 6.6
0.57 ().32 ().29 ().21
4089 6320 7866 18 275
Income < $10000 $10000-$24999 $25000-$39 999 $40000+ All levels
66.6 62.6 63.6 64.7 64.2
0.92 0.73 0.80 0.88 0.41
13.6 14.6 16.7 16.5 15.3
0.59 0.55 0.65 0.70 0.30
13.6 15.3 13.7 12.4 13.8
0.66 0.54 0.59 0.61 0.30
6.2 7.5 6.0 6.4 6.6
().44 ().4O ().4O ().43 0.21
4566 5301 4222 4254 18343
" Prevalence estimates are reported as age-adjusted weighted percentages.
Reports of family history for both men and women are inversely related to age as follows: 40.3% (18-29 years); 42.4% (30-44 years); 36.0% (45-64 years); 25.6% (65+ years). This age differential may be due to a cohort effect, i.e. older generations grew up during Prohibition while younger generations grew up during periods of increased availability of alcohol as well as greater recognition of alcohol problems. Age differences, however, are greatest for second-degree and/or third-degree relatives rather than first-degree relatives, suggesting the presence of selective recall among older respondents (relatives less likely to be living and remembered, less immediate exposure, etc.). Table 1 also indicates that gender differences are more pro-
nounced among the younger age groups. Absolute differences by age are as follows: 4.9% (18-29 years); 4.5% (30-44 years); 3.6% (45-64 years); 1.9% (65+ years). The prevalence of family history for alcoholism by demographic subgroups is presented in Table 2 for men and Table 3 for women. Among both men and women, the prevalence of a positive family history for alcoholism was highest for Native Americans (46.1% for men and 62.8% for women) and lowest for Asian Americans (12.3% for men and 15.5% for women). White respondents were more likely than were blacks to report a positive family history of alcoholism. While women, as noted previously, reported an overall higher prevalence of
934
Thomas C. Hatford
Table 3. Percentage distribution offamily history for alcoholism by selected demographic characteristics among women Family history negative Demographic characteristics
2nd and/or 3rd degree irelatives only
1st degree relatives only
1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd degree relatives
%"
SE
%
SE
%
SE
%
SE
Sample size (n)
Race Aleut, Eskimo or American Indian Asian/Pacific Islander Black (ind. Hispanics) White (incl. Hispanics) All races
37.2 84.5 64.4 59.8 60.8
3.45 1.85 0.95 0.44 0.40
9.4 7.9 13.5 14.9 14.5
2.24 1.53 0.63 0.29 0.26
31.0 6.2 15.1 15.8 15.6
4.00 1.20 0.67 0.30 0.27
22.3 1.4 7.0 9.5 9.1
3.44 0.52 0.49 0.24 0.21
201 439 3911 20657 25208
Hispanic origin Puerto Rican Cuban Mexican-Mexican Mexican-American Other Hispanic All Hispanic
68.5 75.1 76.9 57.5 69.9 68.4
3.62 4.34 2.95 2.76 2.64 1.42
8.3 7.9 6.5 10.7 11.2 9.4
2.07 2.90 1.75 1.40 1.94 0.85
16.2 12.7 13.0 19.0 14.7 15.3
2.93 3.58 2.40 2.17 2.15 1.09
7.0 4.3 3.6 12.8 4.2 7.0
2.05 2.36 1.20 2.11 0.98 0.80
231 113 270 447 439 1500
Marital status Married Widowed Divorced Separated Never married AH categories
60.0 54.2 57.3 59.2 63.9 60.9
0.53 3.61 1.16 1.85 1.07 0.40
14.6 18.7 14.3 12.1 16.6 14.4
0.34 4.20 0.79 1.30 0.75 0.26
16.3 15.9 16.4 17.0 12.8 15.6
0.36 2.67 0.79 1.31 0.77 0.27
9.2 U.2 12.1 U.7 6.6 9.1
0.27 2.43 0.77 1.22 0.44 0.21
12648 4333 3100 938 4409 25428
Education Less than 12 years 12 years More than 12 years All levels
60.7 60.1 61.0 60.9
0.89 0.63 0.59 0.40
10.3 14.0 17.2 14.4
0.57 0.39 0.45 0.26
18.2 16.5 13.6 15.6
0.69 0.46 0.41 0.27
10.8 9.4 8.2 9.1
0.57 0.31 0.33 0.21
6196 9921 9820 25 397
Income < $10000 $10000-$24999 $25000-$39999 $40000-1AU levels
63.5 59.1 59.7 60.1 60.9
0.76 0.69 0.79 0.89 0.40
12.7 14.2 15.3 16.7 14.4
0.47 0.46 0.57 0.68 0.26
15.4 16.4 16.0 14.6 15.6
0.56 0.51 0.61 0.60 0.27
8.3 10.3 9.0
0.38 0.42 0.44 0.48 0.21
8920 7465 4676 4405 25466
8.5 9.1
' Prevalence estimates are reported as age-adjusted weighted percentages.
positive family history, the largest gender discrepancy was for Native Americans, in which almost two-thirds of the women reported a positive history compared to slightly less than half of the men. Hispanic men and women, when compared to white men and women, were less likely to report a positive family history, but there was considerable variation within Hispanics subgroups, especially among men. The prevalence of a positive family history among Cuban men was significantly lower (p < 0.01) when compared with the total sample of Hispanic men (9.2% for Cuban men and 27.0% for all Hispanic men). For both men and women, the
prevalence of a positive family history was significantly higher (/>
NEW DATA NOTE SERIES—5
Family history of alcoholism in the United States: prevalence and demographic characteristics THOMAS C. HARFORD National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Division of Biometry and Epidemiology, 5600 Fishers Lane, Room 14C-26, Rockville, MD 20879, USA The Data Notes Series is edited by Dr Bridget Grant, Chief of Biometry of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
Abstract National estimates of the prevalence of family history for alcoholism in the USA were investigated using a general population sample of 43809 respondents 18 years of age and older. Approximately 38% of the total sample reported a positive history for alcoholism. Positive reports were highest for Native Americans and lowest for Asian Americans.
Introduction Alcoholism has long been considered a problem that runs in families, affecting those with ties to the alcoholic in terms of economic, caretaking, and psychological and physical abuse. The incidence of alcoholism is significantly higher among relatives of alcoholics than among relatives of non-alcoholics, even when the non-alcoholics have a psychiatric history.' Adoption studies have indicated a risk of alcoholism among offspring of alcoholics that is several times higher than among offspring of nonalcoholics, suggesting a genetic factor in its etiology.^"'' While the adoption method enables a dual assessment of both genetic and environmental factors, only a few such studies have been undertaken. As an alternative, a number of studies have selected non-alcoholic populations which vary in their risk for alcoholism (i.e. children of alcoholics). While these studies cannot disentangle genetic from environmental factors they have contributed important information on the cognitive, emotional, and behavioural characteristics of those at risk for alcoholism.' Most of these studies, however, draw upon volunteers or those in treatment and are not
representative samples in the general population. This report presents recent national estimates regarding the prevalence of a family history for alcoholism in the USA which updates previous national data by almost a decade.' Because both the consumption of alcohol and other alcohol-related problems vary for subgroups of the population,'' the demographic characteristics of reports for family alcoholism are also examined.
Method The information provided in this report draws upon data from the 1988 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The NHIS utilized a complex, multistage sample design that oversamples for Blacks in order to obtain adequate numbers for analysis.^ Because the sample is stratified and clustered, and features unequal probabilities of selection, standard errors for tests of the statistical differences between proportions were estimated using statistical software that takes into account these survey design characteristics.' A total of
931
932
Thomas C. Harford
43 809 interviews were obtained from one randomly selected adult 18 years of age or older from each selected NHIS household, with an overall response rate of 85.5%. Respondents were asked if any of their relatives have been alcoholics or problem drinkers at any time during their lives. Respondents were not provided with formal criteria of alcoholism or problem drinking and it is not known how they decided that their relatives were alcoholics or problem drinkers. Hereafter, the terms problem drinkers and alcoholics will be subsumed under the term alcoholics. Because alcoholism in multiple generations indicates a relatively high genetic loading for the risk of developing alcoholism in the future,'" and because reports of family history may vary according to degree of exposure to alcoholism and numerous other factors, individuals were categorized into one of four mutually exclusive groups: (1) family history negative with no biological relatives reported as problem drinkers or alcoholics; (2) family history positive including alcoholism in only second-degree and/or third-degree blood relatives; (3) family history positive including alcoholism in only firstdegree blood relatives; and (4) family history positive including alcoholism in first-degree and second-degree and/or third-degree blood relatives.
Following the presentation of prevalence estimates for family history by gender and age, estimates are provided for race, Hispanic origin, marital status, education, and income. These estimates are age-adjusted for each gender group. It is not possible, in this brief report, to describe patterns of family history by each degree affected and by the demographic factors which are presented tabularly. Rather, attention will be directed to overall estimates of positive family history.
Results Prevalence estimates for family history by gender and age are shown in Table 1. Nearly 38% of the total sample reported a positive history for alcoholism—(36.1% of men and 38.8% of women). The higher prevalence among women compared to men occurs primarily for first-degree relatives (24.5% for women and 20.5% for men) vs seconddegree and/or third-degree relatives (14.3% for women and 15.5% for men). Although there is no clear interpretation for this finding, men, in view of their greater overall consumption, may be applying stricter definitions of problem drinking and alcoholism.'
Table 1. Percentage distribution offamily history for alcoholism by gender and age Family history negative Gender and age Both sexes 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 + 18 + Men 18-29 30-44 45-64 65 +
18 + Women 18-29 30-44 45-64
65 + 18 +
2nd and/or 3rd degree irelatives only
1st degree relatives only
1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd degree relatives
%'
SE
%
SE
%
SE
%
SE
Sample size (n)
59.7 57.6 64.0 74.4 62.5
0.56 0.48 0.56 0.55 0.32
19.4 16.3 12.2 8.6 14.8
0.45 0.34 0.35 0.35 0.21
11.7 16.9 16.3 12.8 14.7
0.37 0.35 0.41 0.43 0.21
9.1 9.2 7.4 4.1 7.9
0.31 0.28 0.28 0.24 0.16
10430 13844 10657 8878 43 809
62.2 59.9 65.9 73.3 63.9
0.88 0.68 0.76 0.88 0.41
19.4 17.0 12.8 9.6 15.5
0.71 0.50 0.51 0.57 0.31
11.1 15.5 15.0 13.2 13.8
0.56 0.49 0.56 0.70 0.30
7.4 7.6 6.4 3.8 6.7
0.45 0.37 0.38 0.36 0.21
4411 6110 4745 3077 18343
57.3 55.4 62.3 75.2 61.2
0.72 0.65 0.76 0.66 0.40
19.5 15.7 11.8 7.9 14.3
0.57 0.45 0.50 0.40 0.26
12.4 18.2 17.6 12.6 15.5
0.48 0.48 0.57 0.50 0.27
10.8 10.7 8.4 4.3 9.0
0.44 0.40 0.39 0.30 0.21
6019 7734 5912 5801 25466
Prevalence estimates are reported as weighted percentages.
Family history of alcoholism in the USA
933
Table 2. Percentage distribution offamily history for alcoholism by selected demographic characteristics among men Family history negative Demographic characteristic
2nd and/or 3rd degree relatives only
1st degree relatives only
1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd degree relatives
%'
SE
%
SE
%
SE
%
SE
Sample size (n)
Race Aleut, Eskimo or American Indian Asian/Pacific Islander Black (ind. Hispanics) White (incl. Hispanics) All races
53.9 87.7 66.0 63.2 64.1
4.74 2.52 1.30 0.44 0.41
11.0 5.0 14.6 15.9 15.4
2.74 1.45 0.95 0.33 0.30
21.5 6.4 13.8 14.0 13.8
4.16 2.06 0.83 0.32 0.30
13.7 0.8 5.5 6.9 6.6
;>.97 0.50 0.57 0.23 0.21
141 346 2170 15 475 18132
Hispanic origin Puerto Rican Cuban Mexican-Mexican Mexican-American Other Hispanic All Hispanic
69.4 90.8 77.2 64.6 73.8 73.0
4.67 3.49 3.27 2.71 2.93 1.55
12.9 0.7 9.5 13.4 9.5 10.1
3.65 0.76 2.10 1.91 1.97 1.01
14.1 5.6 9.8 12.7 12.6 11.5
3.08 2.76 2.33 2.06 2.28 1.06
3.6 2.8 3.5 9.2 4.0 5.4
.48 .74 .12 .89 .14 0.75
114 84 271 318 289 1076
Marital status Married Widowed Divorced Separated Never married All categories
62.4 73.2 60.4 62.8 68.3 64.2
0.54 7.93 1.65 2.75 1.12 0.41
15.8 12.1 17.3 13.2 15.3 15.3
0.41 7.09 1.36 1.65 0.82 0.30
14.7 11.5 15.1 15.7 11.2 13.8
0.41 3.47 1.09 2.11 0.72 0.30
7.1 3.3 7.2 8.2 5.1 6.6
0.28 .26 0.88 .48 0.47 0.21
11137 819 1710 466 4196 18328
Education Less than 12 years 12 years More than 12 years All levels
62.9 64.1 65.0 64,2
1.07 0.66 0.62 0.41
12.8 15.2 16.6 15.4
0.73 0.49 0.48 0.30
16.1 14.5 12.1 13.8
0.75 0.48 0.46 0.30
8.2 6.2 6.2 6.6
0.57 ().32 ().29 ().21
4089 6320 7866 18 275
Income < $10000 $10000-$24999 $25000-$39 999 $40000+ All levels
66.6 62.6 63.6 64.7 64.2
0.92 0.73 0.80 0.88 0.41
13.6 14.6 16.7 16.5 15.3
0.59 0.55 0.65 0.70 0.30
13.6 15.3 13.7 12.4 13.8
0.66 0.54 0.59 0.61 0.30
6.2 7.5 6.0 6.4 6.6
().44 ().4O ().4O ().43 0.21
4566 5301 4222 4254 18343
" Prevalence estimates are reported as age-adjusted weighted percentages.
Reports of family history for both men and women are inversely related to age as follows: 40.3% (18-29 years); 42.4% (30-44 years); 36.0% (45-64 years); 25.6% (65+ years). This age differential may be due to a cohort effect, i.e. older generations grew up during Prohibition while younger generations grew up during periods of increased availability of alcohol as well as greater recognition of alcohol problems. Age differences, however, are greatest for second-degree and/or third-degree relatives rather than first-degree relatives, suggesting the presence of selective recall among older respondents (relatives less likely to be living and remembered, less immediate exposure, etc.). Table 1 also indicates that gender differences are more pro-
nounced among the younger age groups. Absolute differences by age are as follows: 4.9% (18-29 years); 4.5% (30-44 years); 3.6% (45-64 years); 1.9% (65+ years). The prevalence of family history for alcoholism by demographic subgroups is presented in Table 2 for men and Table 3 for women. Among both men and women, the prevalence of a positive family history for alcoholism was highest for Native Americans (46.1% for men and 62.8% for women) and lowest for Asian Americans (12.3% for men and 15.5% for women). White respondents were more likely than were blacks to report a positive family history of alcoholism. While women, as noted previously, reported an overall higher prevalence of
934
Thomas C. Hatford
Table 3. Percentage distribution offamily history for alcoholism by selected demographic characteristics among women Family history negative Demographic characteristics
2nd and/or 3rd degree irelatives only
1st degree relatives only
1st, 2nd, and/or 3rd degree relatives
%"
SE
%
SE
%
SE
%
SE
Sample size (n)
Race Aleut, Eskimo or American Indian Asian/Pacific Islander Black (ind. Hispanics) White (incl. Hispanics) All races
37.2 84.5 64.4 59.8 60.8
3.45 1.85 0.95 0.44 0.40
9.4 7.9 13.5 14.9 14.5
2.24 1.53 0.63 0.29 0.26
31.0 6.2 15.1 15.8 15.6
4.00 1.20 0.67 0.30 0.27
22.3 1.4 7.0 9.5 9.1
3.44 0.52 0.49 0.24 0.21
201 439 3911 20657 25208
Hispanic origin Puerto Rican Cuban Mexican-Mexican Mexican-American Other Hispanic All Hispanic
68.5 75.1 76.9 57.5 69.9 68.4
3.62 4.34 2.95 2.76 2.64 1.42
8.3 7.9 6.5 10.7 11.2 9.4
2.07 2.90 1.75 1.40 1.94 0.85
16.2 12.7 13.0 19.0 14.7 15.3
2.93 3.58 2.40 2.17 2.15 1.09
7.0 4.3 3.6 12.8 4.2 7.0
2.05 2.36 1.20 2.11 0.98 0.80
231 113 270 447 439 1500
Marital status Married Widowed Divorced Separated Never married AH categories
60.0 54.2 57.3 59.2 63.9 60.9
0.53 3.61 1.16 1.85 1.07 0.40
14.6 18.7 14.3 12.1 16.6 14.4
0.34 4.20 0.79 1.30 0.75 0.26
16.3 15.9 16.4 17.0 12.8 15.6
0.36 2.67 0.79 1.31 0.77 0.27
9.2 U.2 12.1 U.7 6.6 9.1
0.27 2.43 0.77 1.22 0.44 0.21
12648 4333 3100 938 4409 25428
Education Less than 12 years 12 years More than 12 years All levels
60.7 60.1 61.0 60.9
0.89 0.63 0.59 0.40
10.3 14.0 17.2 14.4
0.57 0.39 0.45 0.26
18.2 16.5 13.6 15.6
0.69 0.46 0.41 0.27
10.8 9.4 8.2 9.1
0.57 0.31 0.33 0.21
6196 9921 9820 25 397
Income < $10000 $10000-$24999 $25000-$39999 $40000-1AU levels
63.5 59.1 59.7 60.1 60.9
0.76 0.69 0.79 0.89 0.40
12.7 14.2 15.3 16.7 14.4
0.47 0.46 0.57 0.68 0.26
15.4 16.4 16.0 14.6 15.6
0.56 0.51 0.61 0.60 0.27
8.3 10.3 9.0
0.38 0.42 0.44 0.48 0.21
8920 7465 4676 4405 25466
8.5 9.1
' Prevalence estimates are reported as age-adjusted weighted percentages.
positive family history, the largest gender discrepancy was for Native Americans, in which almost two-thirds of the women reported a positive history compared to slightly less than half of the men. Hispanic men and women, when compared to white men and women, were less likely to report a positive family history, but there was considerable variation within Hispanics subgroups, especially among men. The prevalence of a positive family history among Cuban men was significantly lower (p < 0.01) when compared with the total sample of Hispanic men (9.2% for Cuban men and 27.0% for all Hispanic men). For both men and women, the
prevalence of a positive family history was significantly higher (/>
