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The Association Between Excessive Drinking Patterns and Depression: A Cross-Sectional Study in College Students in
Go Saito1, Hisashi Yoshimoto2, Ayumi Takayashiki3
1Department of Primary Care and Medical Education, Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Neuropsychopharmacology Reports
|September 1, 2025
Summary
This study found that Japanese college students who excessively drink alcohol are less likely to be depressed. Further research is needed to explore this inverse relationship in diverse populations.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- The link between depression and alcohol consumption lacks confirmation, especially in Asian college student populations.
- Large-scale studies investigating this association among Asian college students are scarce.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the correlation between excessive alcohol consumption and depression.
- To investigate this relationship in Japanese undergraduate and graduate students.
Main Methods:
- A self-administered questionnaire assessed alcohol intake frequency, quantity, binge drinking, and depression using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale.
- Data from 4535 students (2775 men, 1760 women) aged 20+ from two Japanese universities (April 2019-January 2020) were analyzed.
- Logistic regression analysis was employed to determine the association, adjusting for relevant variables.
Main Results:
- Out of 4535 students, 1474 (32.5%) reported depression.
- Excessive drinkers comprised 1076 men (66.3%) and 548 women (33.7%).
- Depression showed an inverse association with heavy drinking (odds ratio 0.59 [0.36-0.98]) after adjustments.
Conclusions:
- A negative association exists between excessive alcohol use and depression in Japanese college students.
- This finding contrasts with some previous research and highlights a unique pattern in this demographic.
- Further research should explore age and race as factors in the alcohol-depression relationship.
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