TOBACCO CONSUMPTION, ALCOHOL INTAKE FREQUENCY AND QUALITY OF LIFE: RESULTS FROM A NATIONALLY REPRESENTATIVE CROATIAN SAMPLE STUDY

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships between tobacco and alcohol consumption and several subjective quality of life indicators in a nationally representative sample of Croatian adults (N = 4721). The study used a single cross-sectional design, and was conducted within the project Substance abuse among the general population of the Republic of Croatia. The data was gathered via face-to-face interviews. While controlling for gender, income and age, the analyses showed a weak, but stable trend of higher QOL among non-smokers than smokers and ex-smokers, and among people who drink occasionally (a few times per month) in comparison to those who drink more often. The results also revealed that, when compared to less frequent alcohol consumers, in the most frequent alcohol consumers group (four times per week or more), those who drink in order to conform to social pressure or to cope with problems are likely to have low qualiiy of life. These findings are discussed within relevant theoretical frameworks.