Publication date: January 2020
Source: Addictive Behaviors, Volume 100
Author(s): Ying Ying Lee, Peizhi Wang, Edimansyah Abdin, Sherilyn Chang, Saleha Shafie, Rajeswari Sambasivam, Kelvin Bryan Tan, Cheryl Tan, Derrick Heng, Janhavi Vaingankar, Siow Ann Chong, Mythily Subramaniam
Abstract
Aims
Although heavy alcohol consumption has been linked to a myriad of adverse health problems, there is a paucity of population-based studies in Asian countries. The aims of this study were to determine the past-year prevalence of binge drinking in Singapore and its associations with socio-demographic factors, mental health conditions and quality of life.
Methods
Data from the Singapore Mental Health Study 2016 (N = 6126) on binge drinking were included in the analysis. Multiple logistic regressions were used to assess the adjusted odds ratio (ORadj) between binge drinking and relevant socio-demographic variables, and mental health conditions.
Results
In the sample, 13.7% of respondents reported past-year binge drinking, 17.6% of males and 9.8% of females were binge drinkers. Most of them were infrequent binge drinkers (7.3% binge drink less than monthly). Moderate associations between binge drinking and mood and anxiety disorders (ORadj = 1.8–4.4), were noted, while associations with alcohol use disorders were much stronger (ORadj = 5.3–9.7). Associations between binge drinking and anxiety disorders were observed exclusively in females (ORadj = 2.3–3.3). Binge drinkers reported a lower quality of life compared to their non-binging counterparts; binge-drinking males seemed to be more affected.
Conclusions
The prevalence of binge drinking is low in Singapore compared to global estimates; most binge drinkers in Singapore were infrequent binge drinkers. However, binge drinking was found to be associated with a myriad of mental health conditions, and a decline in quality of life was noted among binge drinkers.