Yonsei Med J.  1991 Dec;32(4):319-325. 10.3349/ymj.1991.32.4.319.

Cross-cultural study of alcoholism: comparison between Kangwha, Korea and Yanbian, China

• Namkoong K
• Lee HY
• Lee MH
• Lee BY
• Lee DG

• KMID: 1057641
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.1991.32.4.319

Abstract

A cross-cultural comparison study of alcohol use disorder between Kangwha and Yanbian was conducted using the Korean version of the Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS). The subjects of the two areas studied were all native Koreans but lived in different sociocultural environments. A significant difference in lifetime prevalence rate of alcohol abuse (Kangwha 16.48%, Yanbian 6.95%; p less than 0.05) and similarity of alcohol dependence (Kangwha 10.23%, Yanbian 11.50%; p less than 0.05) were found. Among a total of 21 items of alcoholic symptoms, 14 items showed significant differences in frequencies between the two areas. The authors have suggested that alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence are two different diagnostic categories in origin, alcohol abuse is more related to socio-cultural environment and alcohol dependence to biogenetic background. The authors have discussed the possible reasons for a higher prevalence rate of alcohol abuse in Kangwha compared to Yanbian.

Keyword

Cross-Cultural; alcholism; epidermiology; Kangwha; Yanbian

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Alcoholism/epidemiology/*ethnology/etiology
Child
China/epidemiology
Cross-Cultural Comparison
Female
Human
Korea/epidemiology
Male
Middle Age
Prevalence