Background: Quality of life (QoL) has recently attracted increased attention as a major indicator of the recovery from alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study investigated the mediating effects of social support and depression for the relationship between socioeconomic resources and QoL among people with AUD in South Korea. Methods: Patients across South Korea who had been diagnosed with AUD in the previous year (n = 404) and were registered at hospitals and addiction management centers were surveyed. The participants ranged in age from 19 to 65 years. Structural equation modeling was performed, using stable residence, income, stable employment, social support, depression, and QoL as predictors. Bootstrapping analysis was performed to test for mediating effects. Results: The socioeconomic resources income (β = .297, p < .001), stable employment (β = .131, p < .01), and stable residence (β = .091, p < .05) showed statistically significant and positive relationships with social support. However, none of these were significantly related to depression. Social support showed a significant and negative relationship with depression (β = −.172, p < .001). Income positively and directly influenced QoL (β = .148, p < .001). All three socioeconomic resources indirectly influenced depression through social support, which, in turn, influenced QoL. This suggests that socioeconomic resources directly influence QoL and indirectly influence it through social support. Conclusion: These findings suggest that social support has an important role in improving the QoL of people with AUD. Furthermore, socioeconomic resources, such as having a stable residence, employment, and income, are necessary for recovery from alcohol addiction.

This study found that problem drinking was a risk factor for development of depression. Therefore, more attention should be given to problem alcohol use in the general population and evaluation of past alcohol use history in patients with depressive disorders.

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Background Many young people in Korea today experience deprivation in various areas of life. The social determinants of health approach maintains that social factors play an important role in an individual’s physical and mental health. This study aimed to investigate the problem drinking trajectory of young Korean people and identify the effects of multidimensional deprivation on problem drinking. Methods The study used data from 2012 to 2018 found in the Korea Welfare Panel Study. Latent class growth analysis was performed to determine the number of trajectories of problem drinking. After identifying latent classes, a multinomial logistic regression analysis was utilized to examine multidimensional deprivation as a predictor of class membership. Results Latent class analysis yielded three groups: (1) a low-level maintenance group (low level of alcohol use maintained at the low level), (2) a moderate-level increasing group (moderate level of problem drinking with a moderate increase in problem drinking), and (3) a risky drinking increasing group (high level of problem drinking with a rapid increase in problem drinking). Results from multinomial logistic regression showed that deprivation in housing and social deprivation increased the probability of belonging to the risky drinking increasing group compared to other reference groups. Conclusion The study speaks to the need to establish appropriate intervention strategies according to the level and changes in the pattern of alcohol use. The implications of housing and social deprivation concerning problem drinking among young Korean people are also discussed.

Objectives: Although alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a burdening public health problem, medical and community-based services are under-utilized in South Korea. To understand factors affecting the course of AUD, a nation-wide longitudinal follow-up study was conducted. Methods: A 3-year biannual follow-up evaluation of patients with AUD from six areas in South Korea was conducted in 2016-2019. Baseline demographic and clinical data, alcohol-related problems, affective symptoms, insight level, and motivation measures were compared between patients who failed and succeeded in cessation from heavy drinking (CHD) and between patients from medical (hospital) and community-based services. Results: The 6-month CHD rate was 18.3%-48.5%. After six months, follow-up loss and CHD were drastically decreased over time. AUD, alcohol craving, depression, and anxiety scale scores were higher in patients who failed CHD. Hospital patients showed higher AUD severity scores, whereas community patients showed higher depression scores. Failed CHD patients had greater AUD severity in medical setting and greater depression and anxiety severity in community setting. Conclusion: This study performed the first nation-wide prospective survey on the course of patients with AUD in South Korea. Difference in CHD rate and associated factors between medical and community settings in AUD treatment suggest a need for implementing treatment setting-specific programs.