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Patterns of association between alcohol consumption and internalizing and externalizing problems in young adults
Kathleen Vanheusden1, Frank J van Lenthe, Cornelis L Mulder
1Erasmus Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
|December 15, 2007
Summary
Young adults who abstain from or excessively consume alcohol face higher risks for mental health issues. Social factors like low support and negative exchanges contribute to these problems, suggesting targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Alcohol consumption patterns vary widely among young adults.
- Mental health is influenced by both alcohol use and social factors.
- Understanding these relationships is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between alcohol consumption levels and mental health problems (internalizing and externalizing) in young adults.
- To determine if social factors mediate the relationship between alcohol consumption and mental health outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 2,258 young adults in the Netherlands.
- Categorization of participants into five alcohol consumption groups: nondrinkers, occasional, low-level, higher-level, and excessive drinkers.
- Assessment of internalizing/externalizing problems, social support, and negative social exchange using standardized questionnaires.
Main Results:
- U-shaped association between alcohol consumption and internalizing problems; low social support linked to nondrinkers, negative social exchange to excessive drinkers.
- Excessive drinking associated with externalizing problems.
- J-shaped association for aggressive behavior (occasional and excessive drinkers higher than low-level drinkers), partly explained by negative social exchange.
Conclusions:
- Nondrinkers and excessive drinkers exhibit distinct risk factors for poor mental health compared to low-level drinkers.
- Interventions addressing negative social exchange may improve mental health and reduce excessive alcohol consumption.
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