Kim Hyesun
Department of Nursing, Joongbu University, Chungnam 32713, Republic of Korea.
Behav Sci (Basel). 2024 Mar 17;14(3):241. doi: 10.3390/bs14030241.
Substance use among adolescents is a major emerging health problem worldwide. Although loneliness and depression are major risk factors for substance use, few studies have examined the relationship between loneliness, depression, and substance use in adolescents. This study aimed to determine the mediating effect of depression on the relationship between loneliness and substance use among Korean adolescents, based on the data from 53,310 adolescents from the 17th Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey in 2021. Using a complex sample analysis module, hierarchical logistic regression analysis was employed to confirm the mediating effect of depression on the relationship between loneliness and substance use. The results showed that loneliness and depression have a significant effect on substance use (smoking, drinking alcohol, and drug use). Depression was found to have a partial mediating effect on the relationship between loneliness and substance use. Overall, the results suggested that loneliness and depression in adolescents increase substance use, and loneliness can affect substance use through depression. Therefore, proactive strategies to prevent and reduce loneliness and depression in adolescents can be effective in preventing substance use.
青少年的物质使用是全球一个主要的新出现的健康问题。尽管孤独和抑郁是物质使用的主要风险因素，但很少有研究探讨青少年孤独、抑郁与物质使用之间的关系。本研究旨在基于2021年第17次韩国青少年风险行为网络调查中53310名青少年的数据，确定抑郁在韩国青少年孤独与物质使用关系中的中介作用。使用复杂样本分析模块，采用分层逻辑回归分析来确认抑郁在孤独与物质使用关系中的中介作用。结果表明，孤独和抑郁对物质使用（吸烟、饮酒和吸毒）有显著影响。抑郁被发现对孤独与物质使用之间的关系有部分中介作用。总体而言，结果表明青少年的孤独和抑郁会增加物质使用，且孤独可通过抑郁影响物质使用。因此，预防和减少青少年孤独和抑郁的积极策略可有效预防物质使用。
