Earticle

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate mediating effects of problem drinking between relationship acculturation stress and marital satisfaction among international married Korean men. Methods: Subjects of this study were 170 international married men and collected data were analyzed using AMOS 19.0. Results: First, husband's acculturation stress showed a significant relationship with problem drinking. Second, problem drinking worked as a partial mediator between relationship acculturation stress and marital satisfaction. Conclusion: Problem drinking in multi-cultural couples was a significant variable for marital relationship. We suggest development of an integrated alcohol-cultural sensitivity program in multi-cultural couple intervention. The implications and limitations of these findings were discussed, and directions for future studies were also proposed.

Objectives: The aim of this survey study was to examine the possible causal relationship between drinking situation, stress coping skill, acceptance, and spiritual health among alcoholics, and to apply these findings to development of an alcohol recovery program. Methods: The study sample consisted of 300 adult male alcoholics who were hospitalized in eight mental hospitals that provide a specialized alcohol treatment program. For statistical analysis, Structural Equations Modeling was used and the statistical significance was tested using SPSS/WIN 21.0, AMOS 21.0. Results: The major findings are as follows: First, Drinking situation affected spiritual health. Second, Stress coping skill contributed directly to acceptance and spiritual health. However, we also found no significant causal relationship between acceptance and spiritual health. Conclusion: These results suggest that stress coping skill may indeed function as a psychological and cognitive resource that promotes spiritual health and enhances acceptance. Finally, on the basis of these findings, the implications for alcohol recovery programs and the limitations of these findings are discussed, and further research agendas are also proposed.

Objectives: The burden of disease caused by the harmful use of alcohol has increased and the price of alcohol continues to decline in real terms. This paper focuses on the values with regard to how much people would be willing to pay if the health or social harm of alcohol were to decrease. Methods: Using a questionnaire survey we analyzed the value of individual health benefit and social benefit from reduction of alcohol consumption. The questionnaire was designed as a short form including socioeconomic characteristics (age, sex, income et al.), and each respondent (N=1,000) was presented with double-bounded dichotomous choice questions. We employed a contingent valuation method. Results: The value for willingness to pay for individual health benefit was 84.25 won for beer and 59.19 won for soju and that for social benefit was 84.96 won for beer and 64.25 won for soju. Overall, 54.9% of the survey participants agreed on price and tax increase for alcoholic beverages, they reported a twice value for social harm reduction of alcohol use, compared to the individual health benefit. Conclusion: Raising the price and tax would be in the public interest. For establishment of a stronger consensus on the social values of alcohol control, evidence for an effective alcohol-control measure should be accumulated.

Objectives: Homeless adults who have lived on the streets or in shelters for a protracted period have experienced physical and mental illness, alcohol abuse, and lack of social support. This study was conducted in order to identify factors influencing resilience associated with socio-demographic factors, alcohol problems, self-esteem, and social support, related to homelessness. Methods: A total of 168 adults residing in homeless shelters in Incheon, Korea, were recruited from November 15, 2013 to December 28, 2013. Alcohol Use Disorder Identification test – Korean version (AUDIT-K), self-esteem scale, Arizona social support interview schedule (ASSIS), and resilience scale were used. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Stepwise multiple regression. All analyses were performed using SPSS 18. Results: The mean score of audit was 8.0, self-esteem was 26.3, social network size was 12.8, and resilience was 113.8 (personal competence 78.3, acceptance of self 35.5). The resilience score was. Significant correlation was observed between the subjects’ resilience and Ed – highlight: Please review. self-esteem (r=.43, p<.001) and social network (r=.20, p<.05). In multiple regression analysis, predictors of the subjects’ resilience were identified as self-esteem, social network, and experiences other facility entrance (Adj. R2=.382,F=12.393,p<.001). Conclusions: This study identified several factors influencing resilience in residents at homeless shelters. Being homeless can significantly impact a person’s self-esteem, social network, and alcohol problems. Consequently homeless people residing in the shelter may have decreased resilience to live independent and healthy lives. Further studies are needed in order to confirm the findings and also for development of an intervention program at homeless shelters.

Objectives: This study was conducted in order to analyze the effect of drinking and smoking on family relationship satisfaction and life satisfaction. Methods: The 7th Korea Welfare Panel data were utilized and 1270 subjects from the baby boom generation (1955-1963) were included in this study. SPSS 18.0 and AMOS 18.0 were used for data analysis. Results: The results were as follows;First, smoking was found to affect life satisfaction negatively and smoking decreased family relationship satisfaction and life satisfaction. Second, the impact of alcohol consumption on life satisfaction was not significant. Third, we found that smoking had a direct impact on life satisfaction, as well as family relationship satisfaction, and an indirect influence on life satisfaction through family relationship satisfaction. Conclusion: Smoking not only affected health but also life satisfaction. Therefore, smoking policy should be approached using an integrated method.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether there are differences regarding health behaviors among Gyunggido citizens of normal drinkers and problem drinkers. Methods: A self-report questionnaire was used covering questions regarding health, eating habits and health related behaviors such as smoking and drinking behavior, exercise, weight management, etc. Test of significance for differences between the groups were performed with -test and logistic regression. Results: Gender, age, marital status, education level, and occupation were related with problem drinking behaviors. Smoking, first age of alcohol drinking, perceived obesity and stress was high in problem drinker in men. Only first age of alcohol drinking was high in problem drinker in men. Conclusions: There might be many differences in the socio-demographic characteristics and health behavior among moderate drinking, problem drinking and alcohol abuse/dependency. Our finding suggest that the need to develop appropriate high problem drinking prevention and intervention strategies for specified groups at greater risk. Also it can be useful for developing and enhancing various health programs and policies when applied appropriately.