Factors associated with alcohol problems among Asian American college students: gender, ethnicity, smoking and depressed mood

Abstract

Objective: This study examined gender, ethnicity and psychological factors associated with alcohol problems among Asian American college students, using the CAGE questionnaire. Method: The study is a cross-sectional, school-based survey. College students who self-identified as Asian, participated. Results: The sample comprised 258 Asian American college students (132 men and 126 women). In all, 17.7% of males and 8.9% of females had alcohol problems based on CAGE score of 2 or more; yet, the difference was marginally significant (χ² [1, N = 225] = 3.7, p = 0.08). Chinese and Vietnamese males tended to have more alcohol problems than females in their respective ethnic subgroups. Among Koreans, more females (33%) had the problems than males (11%). Male students did not differ in alcohol problems by ethnicity, whereas Korean females were more likely to have the problems (χ² [4, N = 112] = 13.0, p = 0.01) than females in the other groups. After controlling for gender, Asian American college students who were older (≥25), smoking currently and reporting depressed mood were more likely to have alcohol problems. Conclusions: College health center workers should monitor more closely Asian students who have the risk factors for early detection of and treatment for alcohol problems.

• Alcohol
• college student
• Asian
• gender
• smoking

Acknowledgement

The research team would like to thank the Asian American students who volunteered their time for the completion of the study.

Declaration of interest

The study was supported to Dr. Lee by Healey Grant from University of Massachusetts Boston in 2010.

The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for content and writing of the paper.