Another new finding was the positive association of NR with job problems and unemployment. When the group of individuals not employed in the past year was examined in depth (data not shown), the excess odds of NR were particularly high for retirees (OR = 10.87, p = .001), among whom budgetary constraints and lifestyle changes including widowhood may be associated with reduced drinking. The surprising lack of comparable associations with AR requires further study but may reflect continued (albeit reduced) use of alcohol to self-medicate the stresses related to job problems or not being employed.
