Psychological Factors Affecting the Degree of Binge Drinking in the Elderly in Korea Using the Eighth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES Ⅷ), 2019 -Focusing on General Variables and Mental Health Variables

Abstract

This study investigates factors affecting the degree of binge drinking in the elderly in Korea based on the results of 2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination. Among the demographic, health-related and drinking characteristics of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the research data used were gender, age, education level, occupation, subjective health perception, activity restriction, food stability level by level, binge drinking, usual stress perception, depression for more than one week, suicidal ideation within last one year, suicide plan within last one year, suicide attempt within last one year, and health-related quality of life. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation coefficient, and multiple regression analysis. Results revealed that the degree of binge drinking was significantly correlated with gender, age, education level, occupational status, and health-related quality of life. The variables affecting the degree of binge drinking in the elderly were gender (β=-1.171, p < .001) and age (β=-0.042, p < .001), and the explanatory power was 20.4% (< .001). This study identified that the degree of binge drinking in the elderly in Korea differs according to gender and age, and provided basic data for preparing policies to prevent binge drinking and improving drinking culture for the elderly.