An empirically based typology of alcohol users in a Hungarian community sample using latent class analysis

Horváth, Z, Paksi, B, Felvinczi, K, Griffiths, MD ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8880-6524, Demetrovics, Z and Urbán, R, 2019. An empirically based typology of alcohol users in a Hungarian community sample using latent class analysis. European Addiction Research, 25 (6), pp. 293-302. ISSN 1022-6877

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Abstract

Background. Different classification models have been proposed to explain the heterogeneity of alcohol-related problems in general populations. Such models suggest quantitatively or qualitatively different symptom endorsement characteristics between subgroups of alcohol drinkers.

Objectives. The present study aimed to identify homogenous subgroups of drinkers in a general population sample in addition to examining the relationship between the subgroups and psychopathological symptoms.

Method. Data of past-year alcohol users (N=1520) were analyzed from the nationally representative sample of the National Survey on Addiction Problems in Hungary 2015 (NSAPH 2015). Latent Class Analysis (LCA) was conducted to identify subgroups of drinkers based on the dichotomous indicator items of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) questionnaire. Multinomial logistic regression and multiple comparisons were performed to explore the relationship between latent classes and socio-demographical variables and psychopathological symptoms.

Results. LCA suggested a three-class model: 'Light with low risk of dependence' (19.3%) and 'Alcohol drinkers with severe dependence symptoms' (9.1%). More severe subgroups showed significantly higher level of anxiety, depression, hostility, obsessive-compulsivity, interpersonal sensitivity, and psychiatric or AUD-related treatment involvement. Male gender, younger age, lower level of educational achievement, and earlier onset of the first alcoholic drink were associated with membership of more severe subgroups.

Conclusions. The present results indicated that severity-based subgroups of drinkers can be discriminated. Approximately 9% of the alcohol users showed severe symptoms of alcohol dependence. The present data also supported the association between more severe forms of alcohol consumption, and internalizing and externalizing characteristics.

Item Type:	Journal article
Alternative Title:	An empirically based typology of alcohol users in a community sample [short title]
Publication Title:	European Addiction Research
Creators:	Horváth, Z., Paksi, B., Felvinczi, K., Griffiths, M.D., Demetrovics, Z. and Urbán, R.
Publisher:	S Karger AG
Date:	November 2019
Volume:	25
Number:	6
ISSN:	1022-6877
Identifiers:	Number Type 10.1159/000501516 DOI
Divisions:	Schools > School of Social Sciences
Record created by:	Linda Sullivan
Date Added:	22 Jul 2019 15:53
Last Modified:	28 Jan 2020 16:06
URI:	https://irep.ntu.ac.uk/id/eprint/37131

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