‘De ma már úgy isznak, mint az apjuk’: A Pilot Qualitative Study of Hungarian-American Women and Alcohol Use (Accepted)

Type of Abstract (select): Paper presentation

Abstract (max. 250 words):
Hungary has one of the highest rates of alcohol use disorder (AUD) and rates of mortality from liver cirrhosis in the world. Research shows there is a correlation between AUD and intergenerational trauma across all cultures, yet there is little research that assesses the impact of intergenerational trauma within the Hungarian-American community and how it contributes to AUD. Given the impact of Hungary’s historical events such as the Hungarian Revolution of 1848, the Treaty of Trianon, and the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, this is a critical issue. Furthermore, rates of AUD continue to rise in women, yet this is largely unexplored in Hungarian-American women. This pilot project explores how Hungarian-American women’s perceptions of alcohol use, misuse, and disorder may be shaped by intergenerational trauma, as well as Hungarians’ cultural practices around alcohol. These customs include the portrayal of alcohol as medicine, the omnipresence of alcohol in childhood, drinking as a social activity, and the overall normalization of alcohol in everyday life. Furthermore, these perceptions may be shaped by the extreme portrayals of AUD in Hungary, as well as gender roles surrounding alcohol. As consumption of alcohol continues to rise in women, future research must investigate Hungarian-American women’s potential increased risk of AUD, as well as culturally relevant clinical interventions.


Brief Professional Bio (max. 100 words):
Bonnie Horgos, MSW, LGSW is a second-year PhD student in Social Work at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Her research focuses on how gender and culture impact Hungarian-American women's perceptions of alcohol use, misuse, and disorder. She is a licensed graduate social worker with clinical experience in co-occurring substance and alcohol use disorders, intergenerational trauma, gender-based violence, and mass incarceration. In addition to her studies, Bonnie works for the University of Minnesota's Department of Psychiatry and the University of Minnesota’s Office of Institutional Research, Assessment, and Policy Analysis.