Addictive Behaviors, Depression, and Quality of Life among Korean Fishermen

This study investigated addictive behaviors (alcohol dependence and gambling tendencies), depression, and quality of life (QoL) among Korean fishermen in the Jeju Island region, Korea. The study utilized the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test—Korean version, the Korean version of the Canadian Problem Gambling Index, the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, and the Korean version of the World Health Organization QOL-BREF to measure the study variables. The results showed that 18.1% of the fishermen had alcohol dependence and 9.9% abused alcohol, 13.6% were categorized as problem gamblers, 15.2% were moderate risk gamblers, and 14.4% were low-risk gamblers; 25.1% and 20.8% suffered from severe and mild depression, respectively. The mean QoL score was 3.13 ± 0.56, and the psychological health section scored the highest. The degree of alcohol dependence varied by age, education level, and job satisfaction; gambling tendency varied by age, job position, and job satisfaction; depression varied by religion and job satisfaction; QoL varied by religion and job satisfaction. Alcohol dependence, gambling tendency, and depression were significantly negatively correlated with QoL. Specifically, higher levels of alcohol dependence were associated with lower QoL scores in the subcategories of physical health and psychological health, while higher levels of gambling tendencies were associated with lower QoL scores in the subcategories of physical health, psychological health, social relationships, and general subcategories. Finally, higher levels of depression were associated with lower QoL scores across all five subcategories. Overall, participants exhibited remarkably elevated levels of alcohol dependence, gambling tendencies, and depression, and lower QoL compared with the general population. Further efforts are required to increase Korean fishermen’s job satisfaction to improve these problems. In addition, public health policies must address and promote fishermen’s QoL.