Stressful Life Events and Patterns of Polysubstance Use Among U.S. Late Middle-Aged and Older Adults: A Latent Class Analysis

Abstract

The goals of this study were to identify patterns of polysubstance use and their associations with stressful life events among U.S. late middle-aged and older adults and examine whether gender moderates these associations. Adults aged 50 and older (N = 14,738) from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III were included. Latent class analysis was conducted to identify patterns of polysubstance use. Weighted multinomial logistic regression was estimated with a generalized structural equation model. Three different polysubstance use patterns (non-users/low substance users; cannabis and excessive alcohol users; painkiller and sedative/tranquilizer misusers) were identified. Higher levels of stressful life events were associated with patterns of polysubstance use. Gender moderated the association between stressful life events and co-misusing painkillers and sedatives/tranquilizers ( p < 0.05). Substance use prevention efforts should consider aging adults’ patterns of polysubstance use and associated stressful life events when designing and implementing gender-specific polysubstance use prevention interventions.