Indian Journal of Health Social Work
(UGC Care List Journal)
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IMPACT OF ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE ON QUALITY OF LIFE: A
COMPARATIVE STUDY
Vikas Kumar1 & Manisha Kiran2
1PhD Scholar, Department of Psychiatric Social Work (PSW), Ranchi Institute of Neuro
Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS), 2Associate Prof. and Head, Department of Psychiatric
Social Work (PSW), Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS)
Correspondence: Vikas Kumar, e-mail: vikash.jaiswal206@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Background: Alcohol dependence significantly impacts an individual’s physical, psychological,
and social well-being. Understanding the quality of life (QoL) of individuals with alcohol
dependence and its relationship with socio-demographic and clinical variables is crucial for
effective interventions. Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the quality of life (QoL) in
individuals with alcohol dependence, compare it with normal controls, and examine its relationship
with selected socio-demographic variables. Methods and Materials: A total of 200 participants
were selected using a purposive sampling technique, comprising 100 individuals diagnosed with
alcohol dependence (as per ICD-10 DCR criteria) and 100 normal controls matched on socio
demographic characteristics. The normal control group was screened using the General Health
Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and those scoring e”3 were excluded. Participants were assessed using
a socio-demographic datasheet and the WHO Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Results:
No significant differences were observed between the two groups in socio-demographic variables,
ensuring methodological rigor. However, individuals with alcohol dependence reported significantly
lower QoL scores across all domains—Physical Health, Psychological Health, Social Relationships,
and Environment—compared to normal controls (p < .001). Additionally, a significant negative
correlation was found between age, duration of alcohol use, and all QoL domains, indicating that
prolonged alcohol consumption and aging are associated with a decline in quality of life.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the detrimental impact of alcohol dependence on various
aspects of quality of life. Prolonged alcohol use exacerbates these effects, emphasizing the need
for early intervention and psychosocial support.
Keywords: Alcohol dependence, quality of life, WHOQOL-BREF, socio-demographic variables,
duration of alcohol use.
INTRODUCTION
Alcohol dependence is a persistent and
recurrent condition marked by an inability to
control alcohol consumption despite its
negative consequences on health, relationships, and daily functioning. In India,
alcohol is the most commonly used
psychoactive substance, with the National
Drug Use Survey (2019) estimating that 5.2%
of the population engages in harmful alcohol
use, and 2.7% meets the criteria for alcohol
dependence (Ambekar et al., 2019). Globally,
alcohol consumption is responsible for nearly
3 million deaths annually and contributes to
5.1% of the total disease burden (WHO,
2018).
Quality of Life (QoL) is a multidimensional
concept that encompasses an individual’s
physical health, psychological well-being,
social relationships, and environmental
factors (WHO, 1998). Research indicates that
alcohol dependence significantly impairs all
these domains, leading to deteriorated health,
cognitive deficits (including memory and
executive function impairments), emotional
distress, social isolation, relationship
difficulties, and unstable living conditions
(Patkar et al., 2019; Dash & Swain, 2020;
Olickal et al., 2021; Lahbairi et al., 2022;
Colaco et al., 2023).
Recent studies highlight a bidirectional
relationship between alcohol dependence and
QoL. Factors such as the severity of alcohol
use, co-occurring mental health conditions,
and lack of social support are strongly
associated with diminished QoL (Giri,
Srivastava, & Shankar, 2016). While
structured interventions and abstinence have
been shown to improve QoL, prolonged alcohol
use and relapse exacerbate these
i mpairments (Davoren et al., 2020).
Understanding these interactions is essential
for developing targeted interventions aimed
at enhancing well-being and promoting long
term recovery.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to evaluate the
quality of life (QoL) in individuals with alcohol
dependence, compare it with normal controls,
and examine its relationship with selected
socio-demographic variables
METHODOLOGY
This cross-sectional study was conducted at
the Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry &
Allied Sciences (RINPAS), Kanke, Ranchi,
using a purposive sampling method. A total
of 200 male participants were selected,
including 100 individuals diagnosed with
alcohol dependence as per ICD-10 DCR
criteria and 100 normal controls matched on
socio-demographic characteristics. The
WHOQOL-BREF, a 26-item scale assessing four
domains—physical health, psychological well
being, social relationships, and environmental
factors—was used to measure QoL. The
inclusion criteria for the alcohol dependence
group were: married males aged 25–45 years,
a minimum education level of 5th standard, a
diagnosis of alcohol dependence based on
ICD-10 DCR criteria, and willingness to
provide written informed consent. The normal
control group included married males aged
25–45 years with a minimum education level
of 5th standard, no history of substance use
except nicotine, a GHQ-12 score below 3, and
willingness to provide written informed
consent.
PROCEDURE
Individuals diagnosed with alcohol
dependence according to ICD-10 DCR criteria
were recruited as the experimental group for
the study. Those who did not consume alcohol
and matched the socio-demographic
characteristics of the experimental group,
residing in Kanke and nearby areas, were
selected as normal control participants. A total
of 200 participants were selected using a
purposive sampling technique, comprising 100
individuals with alcohol dependence and 100
normal controls. Informed consent was
obtained from all study participants. Socio
demographic details were collected using a self-prepared socio-demographic datasheet.
The normal control group was screened using
GHQ-12, and individuals scoring 3 or above
were excluded from the study. All participants
were then assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF
scale to evaluate their quality of life. The
collected data were analyzed using SPSS 20.
RESULTS
Table-1: presents a comparison of
sociodemographic variables between
individuals with alcohol dependence and
normal controls. The continuous variables,
including age and years of education, were
analyzed using an independent samples t-test.
The mean age of individuals with alcohol
dependence (32.16 ± 6.87 years) was slightly
lower than that of the normal control group
(32.99 ± 5.98 years), but the difference was
not statistically significant. Similarly, the mean
years of education were 15.51 ± 3.71 years
in the alcohol dependence group and 16.27 ±
4.22 years in the normal control group, with
no significant difference observed. For
categorical variables, chi-square (÷²) tests
were performed. The distribution of family
type was nearly equal in both groups, with
51% of individuals with alcohol dependence
belonging to nuclear families compared to
52% in the normal control group, showing no
significant difference. Similarly, the occupation
distribution showed no statistically significant
variation between groups, with most
participants being self-employed or working
as daily wage laborers. Regarding religion,
the majority of participants in both groups
were Hindu (61% in the alcohol dependence
group and 58% in the control group). Lastly,
for domicile, most participants were from rural
areas, followed by urban and semi-urban
areas. Overall, no statistically significant
differences were found between both groups
across sociodemographic variables, indicating
that both groups were comparable in these
aspects.
Table-1.2 indicates that the participants had
been consuming alcohol for an average of
7.86 years (±3.21 SD). This duration reflects
the chronic nature of alcohol use in the
sample.
Table-2: Presents a comparative analysis of
the Quality of Life (QoL) domains between
individuals with alcohol dependence and
normal controls using the WHOQOL-BREF
scale. The results indicate that individuals
with alcohol dependence reported
significantly lower scores across all four QoL
domains—physical health, psychological
health, social relationships, and
environment—compared to normal controls.
These findings highlight the substantial
negative impact of alcohol dependence on
overall quality of life.
Table-3 presents the correlation between
socio-demographic variables (age and
education), clinical variables (duration of
alcohol use), and different domains of quality
of life in individuals with alcohol dependence.
The results indicate that age is significantly
negatively correlated with all domains of QoL,
including physical health, psychological
health, social relationships, and environment.
This suggests that as age increases, the
quality of life decreases among individuals
with alcohol dependence. Education did not
show a significant correlation with any QoL
domain, implying that the level of education
may not have a direct impact on perceived
quality of life in this population. The duration
of alcohol use was significantly negatively
correlated with all QoL domains, including
physical health, psychological health, social
relationships, and environment. These
findings suggest that a longer duration of
alcohol use is associated with a greater
decline in overall quality of life, particularly
in environmental well-being.
DISCUSSION
The results revealed no significant differences
between the alcohol dependence group and
the normal control group across socio
demographic variables such as age, education,
family type, occupation, religion, and domicile.
This methodological rigor ensures that
potential confounding variables do not
i nfluence the study’s findings, thereby
enhancing its validity. The comparability
between groups reduces potential biases,
aligning with previous research that
emphasizes the importance of matching socio
demographic factors in case-control studies
(Prakash et al., 2015; Rajesh et al., 2021).
The study also found that the average duration
of alcohol use among individuals with alcohol
dependence was 7.86 years (±3.21 SD),
indicating the chronic nature of alcohol
consumption in the sample. This prolonged
duration is concerning, as long-term alcohol
use is associated with severe physical,
psychological, and social consequences.
Furthermore, significant differences in QoL
were observed between individuals with
alcohol dependence and normal controls
across all domains—Physical Health,
Psychological Health, Social Relationships, and
Environment. These findings align with prior
research, which highlights the detrimental
effects of alcohol dependence on various
aspects of quality of life (Srivastava & Bhatia,
2013; Chikkerahally, 2019; Olickal et al., 2021;
Arya, Singh, & Gupta, 2017). A significant
negative correlation was found between age,
duration of alcohol use, and all QoL domains,
indicating that prolonged alcohol use and
aging are associated with a marked decline
in overall well-being. Alcohol exacerbates
these challenges, particularly in older adults, who are more vulnerable to its intoxicating
effects and related health complications
(Barry & Blow, 2016). Studies consistently
show that long-term alcohol use deteriorates
both physical and psychological health
(Shivani et al., 2002; Varghese & Dakhode,
2022; Puddephatt et al., 2022). Beyond health
related consequences, harmful alcohol
consumption often leads to family conflicts,
work-related problems, financial instability,
and unemployment (WHO, 2018). Alcohol
dependence disrupts marital and familial
dynamics, as reported by Ramanan & Singh
(2016). Moreover, prolonged alcohol
dependence diminishes satisfaction with living
conditions, safety, and access to essential
resources (Benegal, Velayudhan & Jain,
2000). Ma et al. (2022) further emphasized
the role of a supportive family environment
in improving the QoL of individuals with
substance use disorders. Overall, these
findings underscore the need for early
i nterventions, targeted rehabilitation
programs, and psychosocial support to
mitigate the long-term consequences of
alcohol dependence and improve the QoL of
affected individuals.
CONCLUSION
The present study highlights the significant
impairment in the quality of life (QoL) among
individuals with alcohol dependence compared
to normal controls. The findings reveal that
alcohol dependence negatively impacts all
domains of QoL, including physical health,
psychological well-being, social relationships,
and the environment. Additionally, a
significant negative correlation was observed
between age, duration of alcohol use, and
QoL, indicating that prolonged alcohol
consumption exacerbates these impairments
over time. The absence of significant
differences in socio-demographic variables
between the two groups strengthens the
validity of the findings by minimizing potential
confounding factors. These results underscore
the chronic and debilitating nature of alcohol
dependence, emphasizing the need for early
intervention, comprehensive rehabilitation
programs, and social support systems to
improve the overall well-being of affected
individuals.
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Conflict of interest: None
Role of funding source: None
ISSN: 2582-1393 (Online)