Psychological variables and alcohol consumption in a sample of students of medicine: gender differences

Aim. To evaluate in a sample of college students alcohol consumption in relation with socio-demographic and psychopathological variables. Methods. The psychopathological variables have been investigated through the Self-Report Symptom Inventory-Revised (SCL-90-R), the levels of alcohol consumption through the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). The total score, as well as the scores of the subscales and of the indices of the SCL-90-R, General Symptomatic Index (GSI) in particular, have been analysed also considering gender differences. A multivariate analysis have been performed adjusting for age and variables resulted to be statistically significant at the univariate analysis when comparing males vs. females. The correlations between AUDIT and psychopathological variables have been investigated. Results. The sample was composed by 200 subjects (105 women, 95 men), average age of 21.85 +/- 3.09. The 27% and 13% had values worthy of clinical attention (above the cut-off) of GSI and AUDIT. Women had higher values of total SCL-90-R and of the subscales somatization, obsessive-compulsive, depression and anxiety. In addition, they presented significantly higher scores of GSI. Conversely, men had higher scores at the AUDIT. With the increase of the age the alcohol consumption increased; the latter was positively correlated with the variables sensitivity, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive. The consumption of alcohol negatively correlated with somatization and phobic anxiety. Conclusions. The psychopathological variables seem to have a great impact on the consumption of alcohol. The abuser of alcohol often tends to minimize his problem, so it is important to pay attention to the "alarm bells". It would therefore be desirable to adopt strategies of counseling and prevention dedicated to the university students.