PURPOSE: This study was to explore the prevalence of alcohol experiences and to identify the expectancy on the effects of alcohol and alcohol knowledge in early adolescents. METHOD: The cross-sectional survey of 1854 students from seven middle schools in one district of Seoul was conducted by convenience sampling. Alcohol experience and early onset of alcohol use were measured by the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Alcohol expectancy was measured by an Alcohol Effects Questionnaire. RESULT: Over sixty five percent of adolescents reported that they had previous drinking experiences. The participants with no alcohol drinking experience had a lower level of alcohol knowledge than those with experience(t=2.73, p=.007). In expectancy on effects of alcohol, girls had a more positive alcohol expectation than boys(t=-2.54, p=.011). Alcohol knowledge negatively correlated with alcohol expectancy(r=-.40 p=.000). In regression of alcohol expectancy, gender and alcohol knowledge were significant predictors explaining 17%. CONCLUSION: The results support that alcohol expectancy is an important link with early drinking experiences and alcohol knowledge, focusing on the importance of gender differences. Therefore, an alcohol prevention program in early adolescence is needed and should be focused on multidimensionality of the alcohol expectancy with developmental and psychosocial factors for early adolescents.
Adolescent ; Adolescent Behavior/*psychology ; Alcohol Drinking/*epidemiology/psychology ; Child ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Questionnaires ; Regression Analysis ; Risk-Taking

PURPOSE: This study aimed to identify the characteristics and factors related to problem drinking in male workers. METHODS: This study was conducted using a cross-sectional survey and 232 male workers, who completed self-reported questionnaires addressing alcohol consumption, drinking motives, job stress, supervisor/coworker support, and family support. Multivariate analysis was used to uncover factors associated with problem drinking. RESULTS: As compared with normal alcohol users, problem drinkers were more likely to smoke and had greater family support and coping motivations, and fewer confirmatory motives. Problem drinking was found to be related to perceived health status (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 0.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] [0.64, 0.95]), current smoking (adjusted OR = 2.79, 95% CI [1.26, 6.18]), family support (adjusted OR = 2.04, 95% CI [1.23, 3.39]), confirmatory motivation (adjusted OR = 0.60, 95% CI [0.37, 0.96]), and coping (adjusted OR = 1.79, 95% CI [1.04, 3.07]). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that any interventions targeting problem drinking among male workers must address smoking cessation, control of stress, and the improvement of drinking subculture in the workplace.
Adaptation, Psychological ; Adult ; Alcohol Drinking/*epidemiology/psychology ; Alcohol-Related Disorders/*epidemiology/psychology ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Health Status ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Motivation ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/epidemiology ; Social Support ; Stress, Psychological/epidemiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Workplace

We conducted this cross-sectional study to elucidate factors that predict persistent smoking of the Korean cancer survivors. The subjects were 130 adult (> or =19 yr old) cancer survivors who were smokers at the diagnosis of cancer and have participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys conducted from 2007 to 2011. We categorized them into the persistent smokers and the quitters, according to change in smoking status between the time of cancer diagnosis and the time of the survey. Factors associated with persistent smoking were evaluated using the multiple logistic regression analysis. During 7.52 yr (standard deviation = 0.34) after the cancer diagnosis, 59.6% of the 130 cancer survivors have continued to smoke. After adjusting for covariates, following factors were independently associated with the risk of persistent smoking: female, low income, high-risk alcohol use, high body mass index (> or = 25 kg/m2), presence of household members who smoke, and longer duration of smoking. Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test showed a positive association with the risk of persistent smoking (P for trend = 0.012). In conclusion, more efforts for smoking cessation should be in place for the cancer survivors with those risk factors associated with the persistent smoking.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; *Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Neoplasms/*mortality ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Smoking/*epidemiology ; Smoking Cessation/psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Survivors/*psychology

This study aimed to identify clinical correlates of hazardous drinking in a large cohort of Korean patients with depression. We recruited a total of 402 depressed patients aged > 18 yr from the Clinical Research Center for Depression (CRESCEND) study in Korea. Patients' drinking habits were assessed using the Korean Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT-K). Psychometric scales, including the HAMD, HAMA, BPRS, CGI-S, SSI-Beck, SOFAS, and WHOQOL-BREF, were used to assess depression, anxiety, overall psychiatric symptoms, global severity, suicidal ideation, social functioning, and quality of life, respectively. We compared demographic and clinical features and psychometric scores between patients with and without hazardous drinking behavior after adjusting for the effects of age and sex. We then performed binary logistic regression analysis to identify independent correlates of hazardous drinking in the study population. Our results revealed that hazardous drinking was associated with current smoking status, history of attempted suicide, greater psychomotor retardation, suicidal ideation, weight loss, and lower hypochondriasis than non-hazardous drinking. The regression model also demonstrated that more frequent smoking, higher levels of suicidal ideation, and lower levels of hypochondriasis were independently correlates for hazardous drinking in depressed patients. In conclusion, depressed patients who are hazardous drinkers experience severer symptoms and a greater burden of illness than non-hazardous drinkers. In Korea, screening depressed patients for signs of hazardous drinking could help identify subjects who may benefit from comprehensive therapeutic approaches.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking/*epidemiology ; Alcoholism/*epidemiology/psychology ; *Dangerous Behavior ; Depressive Disorder/*epidemiology/psychology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/*statistics & numerical data ; Quality of Life ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Suicidal Ideation

OBJECTIVETo explore the risk factors that influencing the occurrence of road-related traffic injuries, so as to provide related bases for controlling injuries.

METHODSA case-control study was conducted on 256 drivers with histories of accidents and their controls. EPQ questionnaire and a self-designed questionnaire were used to collect data. Risk factors would include behaviors as driving time per day, types of vehicles, time and status of sleep, degree of education, diet habits, feeling of tiredness, alcohol intake, time of watching television before driving and marriage status. Physiological index as blood type, blood pressure, cordial, using tranquillizers, disease history, reaction time, eyesight, overweight, etc. were also tested. Conditional logistic regression model was used to analyze risk factors.

RESULTSFrom all these tests, risk factors which including dietetic rhythm (OR = 1.815), tiredness (OR = 3.263), history of digestive disease (OR = 3.504), weak eye sight (OR = 3.825), being divorced (OR = 3.226), wake up early (OR = 4.931), mixed insomnia (OR = 5.719), simple reaction time (OR = 3.498), complex reaction time (OR = 2.292), P score (OR = 1.352), E score (OR = 1.439) were noticed to be significantly important.

CONCLUSIONThe occurrence of road-related injuries were related to a series of physiological, psychological and behavioral risk factors among drivers.

Accidents, Traffic ; psychology ; statistics & numerical data ; Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; adverse effects ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Fatigue ; complications ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The aim of this study is to investigate prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among adolescents and difference in worry and stress between normal and IBS groups. Questionnaire survey was conducted at a girl's middle and high school. Students from seventh to eleventh grade participated in the examination on Rome II criteria, lifestyle and dietary habits. Worry and stress were measured with the Korean version Penn State Worry Questionnaire-Children and the Korean version Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument. Worry score was significantly higher in the IBS group (22.07 +/- 9.38, P < 0.001) than in the normal group (18.65 +/- 8.99) and was higher in high school students than in middle school students (P = 0.02). Stress score also was higher in the IBS group than in the normal group (P < 0.001) and was higher in the high school girls than in the middle school ones (P = 0.04). Of all the lifestyle factors influencing IBS preference for fatty foods, preference for salty foods, drinking alcohol and sleeping for less than six hours a day were found to be significant. Worry and stress seem to be associated with IBS symptoms. The findings of this study draw a clue that less worry and stress will help decrease IBS symptoms.
Adolescent ; Alcohol Drinking ; *Anxiety ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/epidemiology/*psychology ; Life Style ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Regression Analysis ; Sleep ; Socioeconomic Factors ; *Stress, Psychological

The aim of this study is to investigate prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among adolescents and difference in worry and stress between normal and IBS groups. Questionnaire survey was conducted at a girl's middle and high school. Students from seventh to eleventh grade participated in the examination on Rome II criteria, lifestyle and dietary habits. Worry and stress were measured with the Korean version Penn State Worry Questionnaire-Children and the Korean version Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument. Worry score was significantly higher in the IBS group (22.07 +/- 9.38, P < 0.001) than in the normal group (18.65 +/- 8.99) and was higher in high school students than in middle school students (P = 0.02). Stress score also was higher in the IBS group than in the normal group (P < 0.001) and was higher in the high school girls than in the middle school ones (P = 0.04). Of all the lifestyle factors influencing IBS preference for fatty foods, preference for salty foods, drinking alcohol and sleeping for less than six hours a day were found to be significant. Worry and stress seem to be associated with IBS symptoms. The findings of this study draw a clue that less worry and stress will help decrease IBS symptoms.
Adolescent ; Alcohol Drinking ; *Anxiety ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/epidemiology/*psychology ; Life Style ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Regression Analysis ; Sleep ; Socioeconomic Factors ; *Stress, Psychological

PURPOSE: The goal of this study was to evaluate the impact of life style characteristics on the prevalence risk of metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS: A total of 581 adults were recruited from a cardiovascular outpatient clinic. A newly developed comprehensive life style evaluation tool for MS patients was used, and patient data related to the MS diagnosis were reviewed from the hospital records. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of MS was 53.2%, and the mean of MS score was 2.6 for patients at a cardiovascular outpatient clinic (78% of the patients had hypertension). Dietary habits among the life style characteristics had significant influence on the prevalence risk of MS and MS scores. And also interestingly, the classification and regression tree (CART) model suggested that the high prevalence risk groups for MS were older adults (61.5< or =age<79.4), and adults between 48.5 and 61.5 yr of age with bad dietary habits. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that nurses should focus on dietary habits of patients (especially patients classified as high prevalence risk for MS) for improvement and prevention of MS prevalence risk.
Age Factors ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Demography ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; *Life Style ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/diagnosis/epidemiology/*psychology ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Risk ; Smoking ; Stress, Psychological

BACKGROUND: Although the postpartum period is suggested to provide an ideal opportunity for interventions to prevent hazardous drinking, evidence on the associations of education and income with hazardous drinking during this period is limited, including in Japan. METHODS: We analyzed data from 11,031 women who participated in the Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study in Japan. Hazardous drinking was defined as ethanol intake of ≥20 g/day 1 year after delivery. We conducted multiple logistic regression analyses to examine whether educational attainment or equivalent household income was associated with hazardous drinking, adjusting for age, parity, drinking status during pregnancy, work status, postpartum depression, breastfeeding, and income/education. We also conducted stratified analyses by income and education groups. RESULTS: The prevalence of hazardous drinking 1 year after delivery was 3.6%. Lower education was associated with hazardous drinking; the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of high school education or lower compared with university education or higher was 2.17 (1.59-2.98). Lower income was also associated with hazardous drinking, but this association disappeared after further adjustments for education; the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of the lowest compared with highest level of income were 1.42 (1.04-1.94) and 1.12 (0.81-1.54), respectively. A significant interaction was detected; lower education and lower income were associated with increased risks of hazardous drinking only in a lower income group and lower education group, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Postpartum women with lower education and lower income had higher risks of hazardous drinking in Japan.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking/psychology* ; Cohort Studies ; Educational Status ; Female ; Humans ; Income/statistics & numerical data* ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Risk Factors ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between peer and parental factors and smoking behavior of adolescents in urban cities and to investigate whether there are gender differences. METHODS: A stratified and random cluster sampling design was used to obtain a cross-sectional sample of high school students in two urban cities. The sample consisted of 512 Korean adolescents (256 boys and 256 girls) aged 15 to 18 (mean age 16.7+/-.58). Self-reported questionnaire consisted of adolescent smoking behavior, peer smoking and alcohol use, parental smoking and alcohol use, father-mother-peer relationships and perceived social support from peers and parents. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to examine the hypothesized model. RESULTS: The findings showed that peer and parental factors accounted for 30.3% of the variance in adolescent smoking and peer smoking was most strongly associated with adolescent smoking behavior (OR=10.18). In addition, peer smoking (OR=4.71), peer alcohol use (OR=4.21), and peer relationships (OR=1.03) were significantly associated with boys' smoking behavior. In girls, peer smoking (OR=26.50) and parent smoking (OR=5.48) were significantly associated with smoking behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous findings, peer smoking is a significant factor on adolescent smoking. Specifically, boys would be more influenced from peers than girls. Therefore, smoking prevention programs for adolescents might be focused on the social context such as, resisting to peer pressure and enhancing the self-efficacy to control.
Urban Population ; Social Support ; Smoking/epidemiology/prevention & control/*psychology ; Sex Factors ; *Peer Group ; *Parent-Child Relations ; Multivariate Analysis ; Male ; Logistic Models ; Korea/epidemiology ; Humans ; Female ; Alcohol Drinking/psychology ; *Adolescent Behavior ; Adolescent