• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.43 no.6
• /
• pp.934-942
• /
• 2014

The purpose of this study was to investigate factors affecting problematic drinking by university students in the Chuncheon area. Lifelong drinking rate of subjects was 98.1%. Problematic drinking rates according to AUDIT (alcohol use disorders identification test) were as follows: 21.3% 'no problem', 58.0% 'at-risk drinking', 10.0% 'alcohol abuse' and 10.7% 'alcohol dependence'. Research has shown that problematic drinking is more prevalent among freshmen, early drinkers, those with hypochondria, and students who are less satisfied with their campus life or whose own parents are frequent drinkers. It has been shown that more serious problematic drinking is associated with higher 'positive alcohol outcome expectancies' and 'coping motives for drinking', and 'recognition level of drinking cultures' is considered less desirable. Multiple regression analysis revealed that 'coping motives for drinking' was the most significant variable affecting the problematic drinking of university students. Developing and fostering various alcohol-reducing programs that largely focus on 'coping motives for drinking' will greatly contribute to solving problematic drinking.