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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Lifetime alcohol use, abuse and dependence among university students in Lebanon: Exploring the role of religiosity in different religious faiths
Addiction, Volume 104, No. 6, Year 2009
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Description
Aims: To examine alcohol consumption and the role of religiosity in alcohol use disorders in Christian, Druze and Muslim youth in Lebanon, given their distinct religious doctrines and social norms. Methods: Using a self-completed anonymous questionnaire, data were collected on 1837 students, selected randomly from two large private universities in Beirut. Life-time abuse and dependence were measured as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual version IV. Findings: Alcohol use was more common in Christians, who started drinking younger and were twice as likely to be diagnosed with abuse and dependence. However, among ever drinkers, the odds of alcohol use disorders were comparable across religious groups. Believing in God and practising one's faith were related inversely to alcohol abuse and dependence in all religious groups, even among ever drinkers (belief in God only). The associations were sometimes stronger for Muslims, suggesting that religiosity may play a larger role in a more proscriptive religion, as postulated by'reference group theory'. Conclusions: Students belonging to conservative religious groups may be shielded from the opportunity to try alcohol. Once an ever drinker, however, religion is not related to the odds of an alcohol use disorder. Religiosity (i.e. belief in God and religious practice) is, nevertheless, related inversely to alcohol-related problems, even among drinkers. Findings from this culturally and religiously diverse Arab country corroborate the international literature on religion, religiosity and alcohol use, highlighting potential differences between Christians and Muslims. © 2009 Society for the Study of Addiction.
Authors & Co-Authors
Ghandour, Lilian A.
Lebanon, Beirut
American University of Beirut
Lebanon, Beirut
Research
Karam, Elie Georges
Lebanon, Beirut
Research
Lebanon, Beirut
Saint George Hospital University Medical Center
Lebanon, Al Koura
University of Balamand
Maalouf, Wadih E.
Lebanon, Beirut
Research
Statistics
Citations: 112
Authors: 3
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02575.x
e-ISSN:
13600443
Research Areas
Substance Abuse