• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.21-43
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• 2008

Objective: This study aimed to understand workplace drinking environment on drinking behaviors among female employees and thereby attempt to lay a ground for future prevention of drinking problems triggered by workplace environment. For the purposes of the study, variables related to drinking behavior and the actual conditions of female employees were explored. And the study examined the effects of individual and environmental factors on drinking behavior. Methods: The sample included 400 female and male employees in enterprises and organizations located in the metropolitan area of Korea. An in-depth interview was conducted to explore workplace variables related to female drinking, and a self-administered questionnaire was conducted to examine the relationship between workplace variables and drinking behaviors (alcohol consumption, risky drinking, and binge drinking frequencies). Results: Major findings of the study are as follows: First, positive function of drinking and drinking culture at workplace and the pressure to drink were derived from in-depth interviews. Second, 47.2% of female employees were current drinkers and 20.4% were risky drinkers. Third, drinking norms and attitude at workplace, influence of peer group, and drinking culture at workplace were found to be predictive factors of harmful drinking. Fourth, drinking expectancy and drinking norms and attitude at the workplace were found to influence drinking binge frequencies. Conclusion: The study indicates the importance of the workplace environmental factors in female employee's drinking behavior, and addresses the need for interventions geared toward changing the workplace environment regarding alcohol use.