Stress, alcohol- nicotine use comorbidity and depression among out-patients in Butabika Mental Referral Hospital, Uganda

Abstract

Stress has been associated with the onset of depression among individuals who use alcohol and nicotine. Individuals deal with stress by increasing their consumption of alcohol and nicotine use. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between stress, depression and alcohol-nicotine comorbidity among out-patients of Butabika Mental Referral Hospital. The study was qualitative and a correlational approach was used. A sample of 196 respondents aged 18-50 years were recruited using G-power. The sample was composed of both female and male respondents. A purposive sampling technique method was used to obtain the sample. Data was analyzed using the IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Version 25). Frequency tables were used for descriptive statistics and percentages including standard deviation and means. The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) was used to measure stress, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to measure depression the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used to measure alcohol dependence and the Tobacco Dependence screener (TDS-10) was used to measure nicotine dependence. Using the Pearson chi-square results showed no relationship between stress and depression (X2(4, N=196) =4.150, p=.386,) stress doesn’t cause depression. Using Pearson chi-square, no association was established between stress and alcohol-nicotine comorbidity (X2(1, N=196) =1.421, p=.233) and an association between alcohol-nicotine comorbidity and depression (X2(4, N=196) =15.455, p=.004). Using Andrew Hayes moderation analysis, Alcohol- Nicotine is not significant at (int = .9450, p= .0992) on the relationship between stress and depression. The use of alcohol-nicotine comorbidity can either strengthen or weaken the relationship between stress and depression and cause concern in regards to out-patients.