A structural model for quality of life of alcoholics

Aims: To investigate the factors affecting the quality of life of alcoholics and to identify the relationships between these factors to establish and verify a hypothetical model for the quality of life of alcoholics. Design: Covariance structure analysis using structural equation model. Methods: Participants were 223 adults who were hospitalized at alcohol addiction treatment centre after being diagnosed with alcoholism in Gyunggi-do, South Korea. Data included the general characteristics of study participants, depression, abstinence self-efficacy, stress level, stress coping strategy, social support and quality of life. Data were collected from March – 28 May 2016 and were analysed using SPSS 22.0 and AMOS 22.0. Results: The factors affecting the quality of life of alcoholics included alcohol abstinence self-efficacy (β = 0.37, t = 4.56), stress copying strategy (β = 0.23, t = 2.37), stress level (β = −0.20, t = −2.08) and social support (β = 0.14, t = 2.52). Factor analysis and statistical significance level was used for model coefficients and t-value estimation. Conclusion: This study suggested that to improve the quality of life of alcoholics, their alcohol abstinence self-efficacy should be increased, measures to improve their stress coping strategy and ability should be prepared, their stress level should be lowered and the social support system perceived by them should be strengthened. Health professionals need to pay attention to the affecting factors to improve the quality of life of alcoholics. Impact: Alcoholism is emerging as a social problem, not just an individual problem. Alcohol abstinence self-efficacy had the greatest direct effect on the quality of life of alcoholics, followed by stress coping strategy, stress level and social support, which had significant direct effects. Depression had significant indirect effect on the quality of life of alcoholics. Health professionals need to pay attention to the affecting factors to improve the quality of life of alcoholics in clinical practice or community fields.