Depression, Stress and Drinking Habit Including Alcohol Dependence in Jeju Rural Area

Kim, Moon Doo

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Stress has been known as one of the main reasons for drinking. Depression also is a risk factor for people to have alcohol related problem. Despite of high correlation between depression and stress, little study has been done to see the simultaneous effect of depression and stress to alcohol dependence. We tried to investigate the prevalences of depressive symptom, stress and alcohol dependence among Jeju rural population. Also, we have tried to find a relationship of alcohol dependence with depressive symptom and stress.
METHODS
The study subjects were 1,086, 531 (48.9%) male and 555 (51.1%) female living in rural Jeju area. We collected data through face-to face interviews in 2002. With the data we investigated the prevalences of alcohol dependence, depression and stress using CAGE, Alcohol use disorder identification test (AUDIT), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and Psychosocial Well Being Index Short Form (SF-PWI).
RESULTS
1) The prevalence of alcohol dependence in rural Jeju area is 22.3% in male, 3.6% in female. The prevalence of depressive symptom is 14.9% in male, 18.4 in female. The prevalence of moderate distress is 70.8% in male, 67.5% in female. The prevalence of severe distress is 16.7% in male, 26.7% in female. 2) In relationship between stress and alcohol dependence, odds ratio of moderate distress is 7.76 (95% CI 1.86-32.35), severe distress is 17.29 (95% CI 3.95-75.60) in male, and the odd ratio of depressive symptom is 2,96 (95% CI 1.12-7.84) in female. 3) Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the risk factors for male alcohol dependence were potential stress (OR=8.15 95% CI 1.91-34.65), and stress risk (OR=22.47 95% CI 4.86-103.704). The risk factor for female alcohol dependence was depressive symptom (OR=3.42 95% CI 1.10-10.56).
CONCLUSION
Compared with national survey result, the prevalence of alcohol dependence in rural Jeju area is relatively low. Stress in male, depressive symptom in female proved to be strong risk factors. This suggests that we can apply coping strategies to stress in male alcoholics, and treat depression in female alcoholics for improving their mental health.