The ‘sober eye’
Examining attitudes towards non-drinkers in Australia
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21579702 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Christopher Cheers (0000-0002-9523-7806, La Trobe University, corresponding author), Sarah Callinan (0000-0003-4146-1244, La Trobe University), Amy Pennay (0000-0002-6271-8996, La Trobe University) |
| Year | 2021 |
| Volume | 36 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 385-404 |
| Publication date | 2021-04-03 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Psychology & Health (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0887-0446 • E-ISSN: 1476-8321 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/08870446.2020.1792905 |
| PMID | 32663044 |
| OpenAlex | W3043212179 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 9 |
| References cited | 45 |
Background 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.Method Thematic analysis of four focus groups was undertaken, comprising 37 drinking and non-drinking Australian adults.Results Three themes were identified that elucidate the stigma, with non-drinkers being perceived as a: (1) threat to fun, a judgemental ‘sober eye’ disrupting the desired hedonistic environment created by alcohol, (2) threat to connection, described as difficult to initiate and maintain a social connection with and (3) threat to self, 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.Conclusion 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
Developmental psychology · Focus group · Hedonism · Perception · Psychiatry · Qualitative research · Thematic analysis · Alcohol Consumption and Health Effects · Clinical Psychology · Psychology · Smoking Behavior and Cessation · Social Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
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Drinker’s own drinking, experience of alcohol-related harms, and concern for drinking predict drinker’s attitudes towards non-drinkers
Development and Validation of the Cheers Attitudes towards Non-drinkers Scale (Cans)
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Ingroup Bias and Self-Esteem
Negative Experiences of Non-Drinking College Students in Great Britain
Light transgression and heavy sociability
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Using thematic analysis in psychology
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Young adults' images of abstaining and drinking
The importance of authenticity for student non-drinkers
Adolescents' negative attitudes towards non-drinkers
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Temporal Stability and Predictive Validity of the Regan Attitudes Toward Non-Drinkers Scale
Friendship and Social Emotions in Young Adult Finns' Drinking Diaries
Sober as Deviant
Alcohol and the Constitution of Friendship for Young Adults
Every Time I Do It I Absolutely Annihilate Myself
Making sense of drinking
| Citations per year | 2.25 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2022 - 2026 (5) |
| Highly cited | No |