Work Alienation and Problem Alcohol Behavior

• Published in: Journal of health and social behavior Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 83 - 102
• Main Authors: Greenberg, Edward S., Grunberg, Leon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Sociological Association 01.03.1995
• Subjects: Adult; Agricultural Skills; Alcohol Abuse; Alcohol drinking; Alcohol use; Alcoholism - psychology; Alcohols; Alienation; Autonomy; Biological and medical sciences; Corporate policies; Decision making; Drinking; Employee stock option plans; Employees; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Industrial Workers; Industry; Job Satisfaction; Male; Northwestern United States; Occupational Health; Occupational psychology; Personality Development; Problem drinking; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Relationship; Research Design; Social Alienation - psychology; Social behavior; Social research; Wood; Work condition. Job performance. Stress; Working conditions; Workplace; Workplaces; Northwestern United States; Human; Participation; Alcoholism; Risk factor; Mental health; Adult; Alienation; Job satisfaction; Autonomy; Working condition; Psychological effect; Psychological well being
• ISSN: 0022-1465; 2150-6000
• DOI: 10.2307/2137289

Using a sample of production workers from union, nonunion, producer cooperative, and employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) wood products mills in the Northwest, we test the general proposition that work alienation, defined as low job autonomy, low use of capacities, and lack of participation in decision-making in the workplace, is associated with heavy drinking and negative consequences from drinking. We find that the general proposition is supported, but that the pathways tend to be indirect rather than direct, mediated by feelings of job satisfaction and respondents' beliefs about the utility of drinking as a means of coping.