Factors Affecting Social Problem-solving Ability of Community-residing Alcohol-dependent Patients: Focused on Gender Differences

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate factors affecting social problem-solving ability of alcohol-dependent patients with a focus on gender differences. Methods: Participants were 250 alcohol-dependent people(men 140, women 110) who were living in B, G and Y cities. Data were collected from January 10 to March 31, 2017 using self-report questionnaires. Abstinence self-efficacy, alcohol insight, unconditional self-acceptance, and social problem- solving ability were investigated. For data analysis, t-test, one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple regression were employed. Results: Factors influencing social problem-solving ability for men were unconditional self-acceptance and age. The explanatory power was 28%. Factors influencing social problem-solving ability for women were unconditional self-acceptance, stress, religiousness, age, occupation and abstinence self-efficacy and the explanatory power was 72%. Unconditional self-acceptance and age were significant variables of social problem-solving ability in both men and women. Stress, occupation, religiousness and abstinence self-efficacy were significantly associated with social problem-solving ability in women but not in men. Conclusion: The results suggest that it is necessary to consider gender characteristics in order to develop effective management programs for social problem-solving ability in alcohol-dependent people.