Journal of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine 1989;10(12):24-37.
Published online December 1, 1989.

단주 친목에 참가하고 있는 알콜 중독자의 특성 및 가족요인에 관한 연구 (A Study of Characteristics and Familial Factors of AlcohoUcs Attending Alcoholics Anonymous)

이혜리(Lee Hye Ree),심재용(Shim Jae Yong),이연수(Yon Soo Lee),강정원(Jeong Won Kang)

연세대학교의과대학 가정의학교실 연세대학교의과대학 가정의학교실 외래교수

Abstract

The authors have studied the general characteristics, drinking patterns and familial factors of 58 alcoholics who were attending several alcoholics anonymous groups in Seoul and the Kangwha area during the period from May 1988 to October 1988.
The results were as follows :
1) All of these 58 alcoholics were male. The mean age was 43.8±9.8 years, and many(40.0%) were in the 5th decade.
2) Most people(94.8%) had a history of marriage and 84.5% lived with their spouses.
3) Of the alcoholics, 34.5% were the 1st child and 54.7% were the eldest brother.
4) Their income was low in general and 67.2% of them earned their own living.
5) Unemployment was observed in 32.8%, and this result was thought to be due to their alcoholism.
6) A history of familial alcoholism was prevalent in 50.9%. This was significantly related with more alcoholism in the eldest male offspring(p<0.05), especially when the father had a history of alcoholism(p<0.01). And the father's alcoholism was significantly related with the son starting to drink at an early age(p<0.05).
7) The frequency of drinking was 4.9±1.8 times per week and was significantly correlated with an early starting age of drinking(p<0.01).
8) The most common choice of liquor was distilled spirit(So-Ju)(84.5%).
9) Of the study subjects, 46.6% drank habitually, and people whose income was supported by their parents or heritage were significantly related with drinking precipitated by discord with their parents(p<0.05).
10) The majority(75.4%) had a tendency to drink alone.
11) Half were inclined to drink at home, and the same number had habit of changing drinking places.
12) The history of admission was 70.7% and that of more than two admissions was 39.7%. The most common reason for admission was abstinence from alcohol(53.7%), but the majority(85%) were admitted by way of involuntary measures.
13) Four cases(6.9%) had a history of other substance abuse, and they began to drink before they were 20 years old.
14) Familial violence occurred in 74.1% and 55.2% occurred especially after drinking. The victims were their wives in most cases(88.4%)