Citation

Park E, Kim YS. Osong Public Health Res. Perspect. 2019; 10(4): 205-214.

Affiliation

Department of Nursing, California State University San Bernardino, San Bernardino, CA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Publisher Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.24171/j.phrp.2019.10.4.02

PMID

31497491

PMCID

PMC6711715

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Harmful alcohol consumption is associated with considerable social and economic damage to individuals and society. Because gender and ethnic background influence alcohol intake differently, examining gender specific factors influencing harmful drinking is necessary. This study investigated gender differences in alcohol consumption, harmful drinking, and the associated factors among Korean adults.

METHODS: We analyzed the data from the 2012-2015 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Data from survey participants aged 20-64 years (N = 18,581) were included. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test was used for alcohol dependence, and pooled weights were used. Chi-squared tests and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted.

RESULTS: The prevalence of harmful alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test score ≥ 16) was 10.7% in the total sample; 18.4% in men and 3.4% in women, which constituted a significant difference. Education, marital status, smoking, perceived stress, and depressive feeling were associated with harmful drinking in both genders. However, household income, occupation, and perceived health status were associated with harmful drinking only in men.

CONCLUSION: Since there are gender differences in harmful drinking and alcohol dependence, gender tailored prevention and intervention strategies for alcohol dependence are necessary including consideration of smoking, stress, and depressive feeling.

Language: en

Keywords

alcohol dependence; depression; gender; smoking; survey