Relación entre consumo de riesgo de alcohol y síntomas depresivos en estudiantes universitarios de México

Introduction: alcohol is a legal drug in most parts of the world, it is mostly accepted among different cultures. Therefore, alcohol consumption typically does not carry the same stigma associated with the use of other drugs, such as marijuana or methamphetamines. Previous research in Mexico, the United States, Ecuador, and England has shown a positive and significant association between alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms among university students. Objective: to determine the magnitude of the relationship between alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms, and whether this relationship is independent of sex, age, and socioeconomic status in first-year university students. Method: the sample consisted of 2,377 students aged 18 to 25 years (M = 18.82, SD = 1.30), 66.5% of whom were women. Results: multiple logistic regression analyses demonstrated a relationship between risk alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms, independent of sex, age, and socioeconomic status (adjusted OR = 1.88 [1.14, 3.10] with a percentage of correct classification of the 67.2% and a R2 Nagelkerke = .07). Discussion and Conclusions: the evidence of the relationship between alcohol consumption and depressive symptoms emphasizes that limiting or reducing alcohol consumption among young people could prevent the onset of depressive symptoms and their consequences.