Correlates of Problem Drinking by the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test on Korean College Campus

Chun, Sung soo; Sohn, Ae ree

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To survey college students with an Alcohol Use Disorder, and analyze the reasons for their disorder. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was conducted at 60 four-year colleges within Seoul and 9 other provinces. The schools and students selected for the study provide a nationally representative sample, and the survey was conducted between May 15th and June 14th 2003. 2, 385 cases were analyzed using questionnaires, which included a series of questions about students' alcohol use and associated problems, as well as an Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test. RESULTS: 42.3% of students were found to have an Alcohol Use Disorder. The probability of a student having an Alcohol Use Disorder was 1.30 times higher among male compared to female students. Those students not living with their parents or relatives were 1.40 times more likely to have an Alcohol Use Disorder. Those students where the father had a drinking problem and those who admitted that their parents drank heavily while they were growing up were 1.38 and 1.54 times more likely, respectively, to have an Alcohol Use Disorder. Those students attending a general university, joining a student club, attaining less than a B average credit score and those unsatisfied with their education were 1.60, 1.36, 1.41 and 1.27 times more likely, respectively, to have an Alcohol Use Disorder. Those students who had experience of drugs, smoking, binge drinking when they were in the last year of high school and the forceful consumption of mixed alcohol were 3.67, 1.95, 2.15 and 1.76 times more likely, respectively, to have an Alcohol Use Disorder. CONCLUSIONS: College students' with an Alcohol Use Disorder is a very severe and large problem within colleges. An Alcohol Use Disorder is determined by individual and family variables, the college environmental and life variables, as well as behavior variables.