Associations of Loneliness With Alcohol Consumption Levels:Based on the 2021 National Mental Health Survey of Korea
10.4306/jknpa.2026.65.1.34
- Author:
Sujin PARK
1
;
Somyung LEE
;
Yoonyoung NAM
Author Information
1. Medical Center, National Center for Mental Health, Seoul, Korea
- Publication Type:ORIGINAL ARTICLE
- From:Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association
2026;65(1):34-43
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objectives:This study examined the association between loneliness and alcohol consumption among Korean adults and explored the differences across sociodemographic subgroups, including sex, age, income, occupation, and marital status.
Methods:Data were obtained from the 2021 National Mental Health Survey of Korea, including 5491 adults aged 18 years or older. Loneliness was measured using the Loneliness and Social Isolation Measure-6 (LSIS-6). Alcohol consumption was categorized as abstinence, moderate drinking, or high-risk drinking. Depressive symptoms were classified according to the KoreanComposite International Diagnostic Interview (K-CIDI) criteria. The group differences were assessed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and chi-square tests. Complex-sample multinomial logistic regression was performed to examine the associations between loneliness and alcohol consumption while adjusting for age, gender, income, occupation, and marital status.
Results:Sociodemographic characteristics significantly differed across alcohol-use groups. After adjusting for the covariates and depressive symptoms, loneliness remained positively associated with high-risk drinking. Age-stratified analyses suggested that this association was observed only among adults aged 60 years and older. Moderate drinking was not significantly associated with loneliness in all age groups.
Conclusion:Loneliness was independently associated with high-risk drinking in Korean adults, particularly in older adults. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating social isolation and loneliness into alcohol-related screening and prevention strategies, especially for aging populations.
