Gender-Specific Correlates of Alcohol Use Among College Students in Kerala, India

Abstract

Background: Studies of alcohol use among college students in India have reported a male preponderance, but a recent large study suggested that alcohol use is increasing in young females. This increase in use among the young females is of concern as they experience poorer outcomes and a higher risk for addiction. Hence, we aimed to examine the gender-specific correlates of alcohol use among college students in the district of Ernakulum, Kerala. Methods: From 58 colleges, 5,784 students completed a self-administered questionnaire that assessed use of alcohol, use of tobacco and illicit drugs, psychological distress, suicidality, symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and history of sexual abuse. Results: Of the questionnaires, 342 had incomplete responses and had to be discarded, and the rest (n = 5,442, 94.1%) were analyzed. lifetime alcohol use was reported by 39% males and 12.6% females. In the multivariable logistic regression analysis using a full model, male students using alcohol compared to male non-users were older, non-Muslim, had poor academic performance, and used other substances. Female users, compared to female non-users, were non-Muslim, had urban residence, used tobacco, and had higher psychological distress, higher suicidal thoughts, and higher lifetime exposure to sexual abuse. Conclusion: Gender-specific differences extend across sociodemographic and psychological domains. Incorporation of these may improve the effectiveness of public health strategies addressing alcohol use.

Depressive Symptoms and Alcohol Use Among Male and Female University Students: Is Inner Meaning Fulfilment Protective?

“…Although the magnitude of the association between gender and alcohol use found in this study is low, in line with our finding, associating more alcohol use with the male gender has long been established in the literature (e.g. Ajayi et al, 2019;Lategan et al, 2017;Raveendranathan et al,2020). The weak significant relationship established between gender and alcohol use in our study could be accounted for by the increasing prevalence of alcohol use among the female gender as being shown by emerging evidence in recent time (Bratberg et al, 2016), thus reducing the gender difference in alcohol use.…”

Association of Social Network Characteristics with Substance Use among College-Going Young Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…We observed that alcohol (20%) and tobacco (15.5%) were the most used substances. A similar observation was also made by a Kerala-based study on alcohol (21.4%) 14 and tobacco (15.1%) 28 use among college students.…”

“…All students from the classes allotted to the researcher were included in the study. Previous studies reported a SU prevalence of 15-30% [14][15][16] among college students. Considering that and anticipating 25% of the study population to be using any substance, for a 95% confidence level and precision of ± 4%, the minimum sample size was observed to be 450.…”

Relationship of personality, psychological distress, and substance use with social network characteristics of college going young adults

“…[ 10 ] It marks particular importance for mental health because most mental illnesses and substance use disorders have their onset at a young age. [ 11 ] The National Mental Health Survey in India reported that 7.5% of people aged 18–29 had a mental illness,[ 12 ] and 22.9% of young adults reported substance use. [ 13 ] At this stage, person’s personality, psychological state, and immediate close circle (known as a social network) all play a vital role in forming and maintaining young adults’ substance use behavior.…”