High burden of problematic alcohol use is associated with depression and poor psychosocial well-being in South Africa
1
Non-communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Durban and Cape Town, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2473
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Although the burden of problematic alcohol use and poor mental health and psychosocial well-being is high in South Africa, these relations have been underexplored. This study investigated the associations of sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviours, mental health and poor psychosocial well-being with problematic alcohol use (CAGE ≥2) in Cape Town.
METHODS:
In this population-based cross-sectional study, sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviours, mental health and psychosocial information were collected using administered questionnaires. The basic model, to ascertain the associations with problem drinking, comprised sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics and was calculated using logistic regression analyses. Mental health and psychosocial variables were entered individually in separate models.
RESULTS:
Among 1017 participants(81% women), median age 55 years, problem drinking was 12.8%. This was significantly higher in men, younger participants, black Africans, the unemployed, lower income earners and smokers compared with their counterparts. Among 669 participants with available mental health and psychosocial data, prevalence of depression scores≥10 (21.7% vs. 13.8%, p=0.036) and anxiety scores≥10 (14.2% vs. 10.6%,p=0.150) were higher in problem drinkers compared with non-drinkers. Prevalence of low social support (48.1% vs. 36.2, p=0.018) and poor quality of life (43.4% vs. 30.5%, p<0.001) was higher in problem drinkers vs. non-drinkers. In the regression analyses, being younger, male, black African vs. mixed ancestry and current smoking were associated with problem drinking. In individual models, depression traits (OR:2.30, 95%CI:1.25-4.25), less social support (OR:2.63, 95%CI:1.37-5.07), poor quality of life (OR:2.38, 95%CI:1.31-4.33) and physical or emotional health interfering with social activities (OR:2.54, 95%CI:1.11-5.84) were significantly associated with problem drinking.
CONCLUSIONS:
The high burden of problem drinking and its associations with depression and poor psychosocial well-being underscore that routine screening for these conditions is needed. Comprehensive effective strategies for problem drinking should include assessments and interventions addressing depression traits, poor social support, low perceived quality of life and current cigarette smoking.
Although the burden of problematic alcohol use and poor mental health and psychosocial well-being is high in South Africa, these relations have been underexplored. This study investigated the associations of sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviours, mental health and poor psychosocial well-being with problematic alcohol use (CAGE ≥2) in Cape Town.
METHODS:
In this population-based cross-sectional study, sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle behaviours, mental health and psychosocial information were collected using administered questionnaires. The basic model, to ascertain the associations with problem drinking, comprised sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics and was calculated using logistic regression analyses. Mental health and psychosocial variables were entered individually in separate models.
RESULTS:
Among 1017 participants(81% women), median age 55 years, problem drinking was 12.8%. This was significantly higher in men, younger participants, black Africans, the unemployed, lower income earners and smokers compared with their counterparts. Among 669 participants with available mental health and psychosocial data, prevalence of depression scores≥10 (21.7% vs. 13.8%, p=0.036) and anxiety scores≥10 (14.2% vs. 10.6%,p=0.150) were higher in problem drinkers compared with non-drinkers. Prevalence of low social support (48.1% vs. 36.2, p=0.018) and poor quality of life (43.4% vs. 30.5%, p<0.001) was higher in problem drinkers vs. non-drinkers. In the regression analyses, being younger, male, black African vs. mixed ancestry and current smoking were associated with problem drinking. In individual models, depression traits (OR:2.30, 95%CI:1.25-4.25), less social support (OR:2.63, 95%CI:1.37-5.07), poor quality of life (OR:2.38, 95%CI:1.31-4.33) and physical or emotional health interfering with social activities (OR:2.54, 95%CI:1.11-5.84) were significantly associated with problem drinking.
CONCLUSIONS:
The high burden of problem drinking and its associations with depression and poor psychosocial well-being underscore that routine screening for these conditions is needed. Comprehensive effective strategies for problem drinking should include assessments and interventions addressing depression traits, poor social support, low perceived quality of life and current cigarette smoking.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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