Intimate partner domestic violence exposure and the onset of hazardous alcohol use: A population-based longitudinal study of married adults in South Korea (2009-2024).

BACKGROUND

Intimate partner domestic violence (IPDV) is a global health concern. We explored the association between IPDV and the subsequent onset of hazardous alcohol use among married men and women.

METHODS

A total of 13,277 married adults were included in the analysis, with annual repeated measurements from 2009 to 2024, totaling 103,825 observations. Exposure to direct physical or emotional forms of IPDV in the past year served as the main exposure variable. Hazardous alcohol use was assessed using the 10-item Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT). Lagged generalized estimating equation models were used to examine the association of IPDV exposure with the onset of hazardous alcohol use in the following year.

RESULTS

Of the participants, 80.8 % reported no experience of IPDV, 16.7 % experienced emotional IPDV, and 0.8 % experienced physical IPDV. Among men, compared with those with no exposure to IPDV, exposure by emotional and physical IPDV was associated with 1.31-fold (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 1.14-1.51) and 2.95-fold (95 % CI: 1.76-4.94) increased risks for the onset of hazardous alcohol use the following year. Among women, compared with those with no exposure to IPDV, exposure by emotional and physical IPDV was associated with 1.37-fold (95 % CI: 0.94-2.01) and 5.64-fold (95 % CI: 2.74-11.64) increased risks for the onset of hazardous alcohol use.

LIMITATIONS: The causal effects could not be asserted due to observational study design.

CONCLUSION

IPDV exposure was associated with the subsequent onset of hazardous alcohol use. Particularly, the association of physical IPDV exposure with hazardous alcohol use was stronger among female victims.