Motives for drinking and problem drinking in middle-aged people:Examination of DMQ-R and AUDIT based on gender

Abstract

Motives for drinking and problem drinking behavior in middle-aged people were examined based on gender. An online survey was conducted with registered monitors. People in their 40 s and 50 s (N=1,288) with experience of drinking in the past year participated in a survey. The survey administered the Drinking Motives Questionnaire (DMQ-R), and Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). The goodness-of-fit of the DMQ-R to the model was as follows; χ²=2170.64, df=164, CFI=.909, GFI=.837, AGFI=.791, RMSEA₌.098. The mean DMQ-R values of men were higher than of women. The order of the mean values for the four DMQ-R factors in both genders were: enhancement>social>coping>conformity. A significant positive correlation was shown between the four DMQ-R factors and the total AUDIT score in men, whereas enhancement and coping had a significant positive correlation with the total AUDIT score in women. These results suggest the crucial need to focus on intrinsic motives, including enhancement and coping, and reducing these motives for enhancing the management of problem drinking behaviors.