Hazardous alcohol consumption and sense of coherence in emergency department patients with minor trauma.

BACKGROUND: The concept of sense of coherence (SOC) measures the extent to which people are able to cope with stressful life events. Since excessive alcohol consumption may be, in part, the result of failed coping strategies, further investigations between hazardous alcohol consumption and SOC are necessary.
METHODS: Survey in an Emergency Department in an inner city university hospital. Overall, 1,833 patients were screened for hazardous alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, smoking status, socioeconomic status and sense of coherence.
RESULTS: Mean age of participants was 34+/-12 years and 62% were male. Overall, 23% of patients showed a pattern of hazardous alcohol consumption, 23% had abused illicit drugs and 46% were smokers. Mean SOC score was 48.9+/-8.6 points, with no difference between genders. Lower SOC-quartiles were associated with significantly higher prevalence of hazardous alcohol consumption as well as illicit drug abuse and smoking. Lower SOC-quartiles were associated with significantly lower values on socioeconomic variables (e.g. lower income, less education). The negative association between SOC and alcohol consumption was independent of age, gender, smoking, illicit drug use and all socioeconomic variables.
CONCLUSION: SOC and hazardous alcohol consumption were significantly associated. Our data support Antonovsky's original concept of increased alcohol consumption as a result of failed coping strategies.