GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE RELATION BETWEEN DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS AND ALCOHOL-PROBLEMS - A LONGITUDINAL PERSPECTIVE

Longitudinal relations between depressive symptoms and alcohol problem s have been examined infrequently in community-based studies, and gend er-specific findings to date appear to be inconclusive. Study hypothes es were that depressive symptoms predicted subsequent alcohol problems for females, whereas alcohol problems predicted subsequent depressive symptoms for males. The authors examined these relations in a random sample of household adults (aged 19 years or more) from Erie County, N ew York, assessed in 1986, 1989, and 1993 (n = 1,306), Measures of alc ohol problems (in the previous year) incorporated an alcohol abuse/dep endence diagnosis and a heavy alcohol use index. The Center for Epidem iologic Studies Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptom s over a I-month lime frame, Comprehensive logistic regression models incorporated prior depressive symptoms, prior alcohol problems, and so ciodemographic variables (age, race, education, marital status, employ ment, total family income, and number of children living at home), For females, depressive symptoms predicted subsequent alcohol problems ov er 3 years (odds ratio = 3.04, 95% confidence interval 1.35-6.80, p < 0.01) and 4 years (odds ratio = 2.42, 95% confidence interval 1.14-5.1 2, p < 0.05), but not for 7 years, There was no evidence to support th e hypothesis for males, This study clarifies and extends prior investi gations of relations between these two prevalent mental health problem s in a community-based sample.