음주 빈도가 청년의 우울에 미치는 영향에서 사회적 지지의 조절효과: 성별 차이 분석

Abstract

Recently in Korean society, there has been an emergence of the 'lowering age of depression risk'. Amid this, drinking is identified as a major factor causing depression, and it has been reported that social support moderates mental health difficulties. Building on previous research that has indicated gender differences in each variable, this study analyzed the impact of young adults' drinking frequency on depression and the moderating effect of social support by gender. The study utilized data from the 'A Survey on the Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Youths' conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, using SPSS 25.0 and PROCESS macro 3.4 for analysis. The results showed that females exhibited higher levels of depression and social support compared to males. Furthermore, in the relationship between drinking frequency and depression, the moderating effect of social support was statistically significant only for females. Based on these findings, the study emphasized that address the young adults’ drinking and depression problems simultaneously and use social support to solve emotional crisis. Lastly, the study raised the importance of gender-sensitive young adults’ mental health policies.