Work experience and drinking behavior: alienation, occupational status, workplace drinking subculture and problem drinking

This study explored the association between alienating job conditions and p roblem drinking within the context of occupational status and workplace dri nking subculture. From December 1994 to March 1995, a questionnaire survey was implemented in the manufactory sector in southern Taiwan. Within the qu estionnaire, any perceived self-estrangement, powerlessness and social isol ation that the individual experienced in his work were measured as the alie nating job conditions, and any negative physical, psychological and social consequences the individual experienced during the previous month were cons idered as affecting problem drinking. Of the 1117 subjects, 668 (61.8%) rep orted imbibing one or more drinks during the preceding month; the average d aily alcohol consumption being 0.2 +/-0.9 drinks. In addition, 188 (16.8%) subjects reported having experienced drinking-related problems in the prece ding month. Workers with low occupational status were more likely to become problem drinkers when they felt comparatively self-estranged in their work . Further, those with a family history including any habitual drinker or th ose under more encouraging workplace drinking subculture were more likely t o have drinking-related problems. For the prevention of problem-related dri nking behavior, the workplace should be considered as the focus of our futu re intervention and management program.