[Health behavior model based analysis of factors affecting alcohol behavior of company employees]

Factors affecting alcohol behavior were studied using, as a conceptual framework, a Health Behavior Model on Alcohol (Alcohol Behavior Model), adapted from Munakata's Health Behavior Model. Under this model alcohol behavior is restricted or promoted by the levels of self-initiative ability, which influences both health promotion factors and health hindrance factors. How these factors influence alcoholic behavior in company employees was studied. Employees were asked to complete questionnaires when they came to health centers for their regular health examination between August to September 1990. Two hundred and ninety-two of the three hundred subjects answered the questionnaire. Results indicate that the major factor for restricting alcoholic behavior was self-efficacy regarding drinking alcohol. The self-efficacy level was increased by the persons' perceived vulnerability to alcohol and was decreased when alcohol functioned as an aid to recover from fatigue or to lower stress. As a conclusion, empowering clients to enhance self-efficacy appears to be effective as a health objective for coping with alcoholic behavior.