Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Bundoora Campus, Melbourne, Australia.
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne Campus, Australia.
Psychol Health. 2021 Apr;36(4):385-404. doi: 10.1080/08870446.2020.1792905. Epub 2020 Jul 14.
The proportion of Australians who choose not to drink alcohol has increased in recent years; yet, non-drinkers report experiences of stigma and judgement from peers for this choice. This study aimed to explore the attitudes that exist towards non-drinkers and examine what drives this stigma.
Thematic analysis of four focus groups was undertaken, comprising 37 drinking and non-drinking Australian adults.
Three themes were identified that elucidate the stigma, with non-drinkers being perceived as a: (1) , a judgemental 'sober eye' disrupting the desired hedonistic environment created by alcohol, (2) , described as difficult to initiate and maintain a social connection with and (3) , with the presence of a non-drinker described by drinkers as encouraging an unwanted reflection on the problematic aspects of their own drinking. Participant responses also suggested that the gender of the non-drinker influenced these perceptions.
Through the lens of Integrated Threat Theory, this study proposes that the stigma experienced by non-drinkers may be understood as a response to threats non-drinkers are perceived to pose to drinkers' group values (e.g. hedonism) and self-esteem. This study offers new direction for health promotion efforts to challenge negative perceptions of non-drinkers.
近年来，选择不饮酒的澳大利亚人比例有所增加；然而，非饮酒者报告说，他们因这一选择而受到同伴的污名和评判。本研究旨在探讨对非饮酒者的态度，并研究导致这种污名的原因。
对四个焦点小组进行了主题分析，共包括 37 名饮酒和不饮酒的澳大利亚成年人。
确定了三个主题，阐明了污名，非饮酒者被视为：（1）评判性的“清醒之眼”，破坏了酒精营造的理想享乐环境；（2）难以与非饮酒者建立和维持社交联系；（3）非饮酒者的存在被饮酒者描述为鼓励他们对自己饮酒的问题方面进行不必要的反思。参与者的反应还表明，非饮酒者的性别会影响这些看法。
通过综合威胁理论的视角，本研究提出，非饮酒者所经历的污名将被理解为对非饮酒者被认为对饮酒者群体价值观（如享乐主义）和自尊构成的威胁的反应。本研究为促进健康的努力提供了新的方向，以挑战对非饮酒者的负面看法。
