The Relationship between Problematic Alcohol Use and Depressive Symptoms among Female University Students: Moderating Effect of the Satisfaction with Life and Happiness / 우울ㆍ조울병

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to estimate the prevalence of problem drinking among female university students, and also aims to identify whether satisfaction with life and happiness moderate the relationship between problem drinking and depressive symptoms in this population.METHODS: A stratified clustered sample of 1,267 female university students were recruited in a cross-sectional study. Data were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire included questions on socio-demographic characteristics, as well as questions about problem drinking (Alcohol Use Disorders of Identification Test, AUDIT), depressive symptoms (Beck Depression Inventory, BDI), satisfaction with life (Satisfaction with Life Scale, SWLS) and happiness (Positive Psychotherapy Inventory, PPTI).RESULTS: The prevalence of problem drinking among the female university students that participated in the survey was 38.5%. By moderated regression analysis, happiness showed a moderating effect between problem drinking and depressive symptoms (β=−0.248, p < 0.01). However, the moderating effect of satisfaction with life was not significant (β=−0.095, p=0.215).CONCLUSION: This study suggests that a positive psychology-based program for female university students with problem drinking may be useful for the alleviation of depressive symptoms.