Risk factors of alcoholism among Taiwan aborigines: implications for etiological models and the nosology of alcoholism

The objective of this study was to explore possible risk factors of alcohol abuse (AA) and dependence (AD), as defined by DSM‐III criteria, in Taiwan aborigines. The risk factors in a sample of 1555 Taiwan aborigines were analyzed by using the chi‐square test and multivariate logistic regression statistics. The logistic regression showed that the risk factors of AD are being male, having relatively little education, being involved in a problem marriage, being a laborer, being part of a couple with a drinking problem, and having a positive family history of alcoholism. AA has the risk factors of ethnic subgroups dwelling in the main Taiwan Island, male, poor education, working people, and a drinking problem for the couple. Etiological models are proposed as social origins for AA, with interactional model for AD, in this aboriginal sample. Data on Chinese alcoholism is discussed, and a generalized hypothesis constructed that, for the same phenotypical subtype of alcoholism in different ethnic groups, the etiological models are different.