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Social Support Buffers the Association Between Alcohol Use and Depression in Australian Men
Jasleen Chhabra1,2, Michael J Wilson1,2, Ruben Benakovic1,2
1Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
Summary
Alcohol use is linked to depression in men, but strong social support can lessen this connection. This highlights social support
Area of Science:
- Men's health research
- Mental health epidemiology
- Substance use disorders
Background:
- Alcohol use and depression are significant public health concerns, particularly among men.
- Demographic and psychosocial factors influence the relationship between alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between alcohol use and depressive symptoms in a large, representative cohort of Australian men.
- To examine if factors like age, income, social support, illicit drug use, and help-seeking moderate this association.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from four waves (2013-2022) of the Longitudinal Study of Men's Health (N=13,776).
- Employed linear regression models with generalized estimating equations, adjusting for confounders.
- Tested for moderation effects by including interaction terms in fully adjusted models.
Main Results:
- A positive association was found between alcohol use and depressive symptoms (b=0.13, 95% CI 0.11-0.14), persisting after controlling for confounders.
- Social support significantly moderated the alcohol-depression link, with higher social support weakening the association.
- No significant interactions were found for age, household income, illicit drug use, or help-seeking.
Conclusions:
- Alcohol use is a consistent correlate of depressive symptoms in men.
- Higher levels of social support act as a buffer, mitigating the association between alcohol use and depression.
- Findings emphasize the critical role of social support in protecting men's mental health, especially concerning co-occurring alcohol use and depression.
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