Factors Affecting Problem Drinking among College Students in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Study

Purpose: This study examined how stress, resilience, interpersonal relationships, and drinking culture impact problem drinking among Korean college students.Methods: Data were collected through an online cross-sectional survey utilizing validated Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Korea (AUDIT-K), Youth Korean Resilience Quotient-27 (YKRQ-27), Relationship Change Scale (RCS), and a drinking culture scale tailored for university environments. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, t-tests, analysis of variance with Scheffé post-hoc tests, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression analyses.Results: The study found an average problem drinking score of 1.95±0.64, and problem drinking related to military service, smoking status, first drinking experience, and type of residence. Positive correlations (<i>p</i><.01) were identified between perceived stress, resilience, interpersonal relationships, and drinking culture. Drinking and problem drinking differed significantly according to the age at first drinking experience (<i>p</i><.001). Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that living with family was linked to lower levels of problem drinking, while smoking status, strong interpersonal relationships, and a permissive drinking culture were associated with higher levels of problem drinking.Conclusion: Future interventions should build on these findings to promote a healthier drinking culture and improve interpersonal relationships.