Social Factors Influencing Russian Male Alcohol Use over the Life Course: A Qualitative Study Investigating Age Based Social Norms, Masculinity, and Workplace Context.

Abstract in brief

• This study explores how social and economic changes in Russia, especially post-Soviet shifts, influence men's drinking habits over their lives, highlighting that younger men often drink heavily in social settings like workplaces to bond, while older men tend to drink less, especially as they focus on family and health.
• It emphasizes the role of social norms and occupational environments in shaping drinking behaviors, with male peer pressure and workplace bonding playing significant roles in young men's heavy drinking, which gradually decreases with age due to responsibilities and changing social roles.
• The research shows that as men age, the focus of masculine identity shifts from work-based socializing to family and home life, leading to reduced alcohol consumption and illustrating how masculinity and social expectations evolve throughout the life course in Russia.