Predictors of Alcohol Use among Male Young Migrant Workers in Thailand
Keywords:
ALCOHOL USE / ACCULTURATIVE STRESS /DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS / SELF-ESTEEM/ YOUNG MIGRANT WORKERSAbstract
The illicit use of alcohol especially among the young is a rising concern for healthcare professionals. A more recent issue is increasing alcohol use among more vulnerable groups such as young migrant workers. In addition to age-related alcohol risk, young migrant workers face additional stressors including leaving their families, adjusting to new cultures, and limited access to health, education, and social services. In an effort to prevent the worsening of this phenomenon, this cross-sectional study was aimed at investigating the prevalence, risk levels, and predictors of alcohol use among male Myanmar young migrant workers in Samut Sakhon, Thailand. A sample of 230 legally-documented male young migrant workers aged 18-24 years old were given structured questionnaires back-translated from English to Burmese on socio-demographic characteristics, acculturative stress, depressive symptoms, self-esteem, and alcohol use. That data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, and binary logistic regression. The results of the study showed that the respondents had a mean age of 22 years old. Around 51.74% Â were never married and 52.61% were from the Mon ethnicity. Out of 230 respondents, 86% reported drinking in Thailand and among those who drank, 82.8% were classified as low risk for alcohol-related problems. Predictors of alcohol use were the length of stay, history of drinking in Myanmar, acculturative stress, and self-esteem. Findings from this study may provide nurses and other healthcare professionals further knowledge on the health status of young migrant workers and may also contribute to creating health promotion and illness prevention programs.
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