Alcohol Use, Depression, and High-Risk Occupations Among Young Adults in the Ukraine

ABSTRACT

This study examined alcohol consumption in relation to anxiety, depression, and involvement with high risk occupations (HRO; e.g., coal miners), among young adults in the Ukraine (aged 18–25) (N = 192; 60.9% male; 100% Caucasian). Participants were grouped on the basis of drinking status: (1) current drinkers (CDs; n = 132) or (2) nondrinkers (NDs; n = 60). Questionnaires assessed frequency of alcohol use, motives for drinking, problem identification, as well as anxiety and depression (i.e., Hamilton scales). Bivariate analyses showed that CDs were more likely than NDs to be single, have a HRO, and have greater anxiety and depression; for example, 91.7% of CDs had a HRO as compared to 56.7% of NDs. Drinking status was not significantly related to age or gender. Among CDs, common motives for use included: to reduce anxiety and fears (60.6%), because my friends use alcohol (75.0%), to fight stress (78.8%), and to increase self-esteem (64.4%). Among CDs, past month drinking days were: 25% 1–2 days, 37.9% 3–7 days, 25% 8–21 days, and 12.1% 22–30 days. Regarding problem identification, 29.5% reported not having a problem, 34.8% reported possibly having a problem, 21.9% reported having a problem but not needing help, and 13.6% reported having a problem/needing help. Young adults involved in HRO may be a particularly high risk population given increased likelihood of alcohol use, anxiety, and depression. Early intervention strategies that incorporate motivational interviewing approaches to address coping and social motives for use may be beneficial to address substance use and mental health problems.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol use
• depression
• high risk occupations
• anxiety
• motivational interview

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Svitlana Polshkova

Svitlana Polshkova holds MD and PhD in Psychiatry, she is a Doctor of Medical Science. Her main research interests are the treatment of Post-traumatic stress disorders and disorders related to stress, self-harm behavior and high risk behavior, Alcohol-associated problems among youth, Preventions and Early interventions for alcohol and other drugs in community settings. She is a Leading Researcher of Scientific Research Institute of Social and Forensic Psychiatry and Narcology. She was presented two dissertations—the first one was devoted to studying the post-stress disorders among coal miners after the accidents; and the second one was devoted to studying people with high risk occupations as a type of a self-harm behavior. Also, she is a psychiatrist of Psycho-neurological department of Railway Clinic Hospital. She has been working for University of Michigan since 2013 as a Research Fellow of (Fogarty Program).

Oleg Chaban

Oleg Chaban holds MD and Professor Degree in Psychiatry, and an Academic Degree from Ukrainian Academy of Higher Education. He is a Head of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy department of Scientific Research Institute of Social and Forensic Psychiatry and Narcology, a Head of Psychoneurological department of Railway Clinic Hospital, and Professor of General and Medical Psychology and Pedagogy Department of National Medical University named by Bogomolets, also, he is a Consultant of Medical Department of State Office of the President of Ukraine (psychiatry). As a Head of department of scientific research institute, he leads many research projects in Psychiatry, also, many researchers prepared their dissertations with his leading.

Maureen A. Walton

Maureen A. Walton's research interests include developing the efficacy of interventions for alcohol, drugs and violence in community health care settings, such as the emergency department (ED), primary care, and substance use treatment. Her research focuses on the interrelationship among multiple risk behaviors, particularly among understudied populations such as adolescents, women, and African-Americans. Dr. Walton and colleagues recently completed studies examining the effectiveness of brief interventions for alcohol and violence among adolescents presenting to urban ED's, marijuana prevention interventions among youth in primary care settings, and health services interventions among adults with substance use disorders presenting to the ED.