Everyone knows there are modest health benefits associated with some forms of alcohol, particularly red wine. Now, a study suggests, there are mental health benefits as well.
The authors believe their findings (see abstract) support the idea that in societies where moderate use of alcohol is the norm, abstinence may be associated with being socially marginalized, or particular personality traits that may also be associated with mental illness. In other words, you’re not cool if you don’t drink.
Good for the mind and body?
From a news release:
The study utilized data from the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT Study) based in Norway. This provided information on the drinking habits and mental health of over 38,000 individuals.
Using this data the authors were able to show that those individuals who reported drinking no alcohol over a two week period were more likely than moderate drinkers to report symptoms of depression. Those individuals who additionally labelled themselves as “abstainers” were at the highest risk of depression.
Other factors, such as age, physical health problems and number of close friends could explain some, but not all of this increased risk.
Those who abstained from alcohol were about 50 percent more likely to be depressed than those who consumed a moderate amount of alcohol. That strikes me as a startlingly high number.
In Britain, apparently, teetotalers are considered pariahs. So maybe societal attitudes toward non-drinkers really are to blame.
If so, that’s a shame.