Life Stressors and Depressive Symptoms: The Moderating Roles of Alcohol Consumption and Age

Background: Mental health issues among employees are a growing concern globally, particularly in high-stress environments such as Korean workplaces. This study was conducted to analyze the relationships between life stressors and depressive symptoms among Korean employees, focusing on the moderating effects of alcohol consumption and age. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 8432 Korean employees. The participants completed assessments for depressive symptoms, alcohol consumption, and seven major life stressors (workplace stress, family relationships, interpersonal conflicts, health problems, financial strain, traumatic events, and mannerisms). Moderation analyses were performed using Hayes' PROCESS macro. Results: The severity of depressive symptoms significantly increased with higher levels of alcohol consumptions. The findings indicated that age moderated the relationship between interpersonal conflict stress and depressive symptoms, suggesting that the association between interpersonal stress and depression was weaker among older individuals. Conversely, alcohol consumption moderated the relationship between traumatic event stress and depressive symptoms, suggesting that higher alcohol use intensifies the impact of traumatic stress on depression. Conclusions: This study provides insights into the complex interactions between life stressors, alcohol consumption, and depressive symptoms in Korean employees. The findings highlight the need for age-specific mental health interventions and early intervention for excessive alcohol consumption, especially for individuals experiencing traumatic events.