Data Management Research Project
I chose the NESARC Codebook to work with for this assignment because I am interested in mental health and personally, I recently decided to be completely sober, so I am curious what effects alcohol abuse in the family dynamic have on the mental health of Americans.
Questions:
Is a family history of alcoholism associated with alcohol addiction?
1a. Is alcohol abuse/dependence associated with major depression?
Variables I used:
DID NOT SEEK HELP BECAUSE TRIED GETTING HELP BEFORE AND IT DIDN'T WORK
BLOOD/NATURAL FATHER EVER AN ALCOHOLIC OR PROBLEM DRINKER
BLOOD/NATURAL MOTHER EVER AN ALCOHOLIC OR PROBLEM DRINKER
ANY FULL BROTHERS EVER ALCOHOLICS OR PROBLEM DRINKERS
ANY FULL SISTERS EVER ALCOHOLICS OR PROBLEM DRINKERS
EVER HAD 2-WEEK PERIOD WHEN DIDN'T CARE ABOUT THINGS USUALLY CARED ABOUT
MOVED/TALKED MUCH MORE SLOWLY THAN USUAL MOST DAYS FOR 2+ WEEKS
BECAME SO RESTLESS THAT FELT UNCOMFORTABLE FOR 2+ WEEKS
FELT WORTHLESS MOST OF THE TIME FOR 2+ WEEKS
FELT GUILTY ABOUT THINGS WOULDN'T NORMALLY FEEL GUILTY ABOUT 2+ WEEKS
HAD TROUBLE CONCENTRATING/KEEPING MIND ON THINGS MOST DAYS FOR 2+ WEEKS
HAD ARGUMENTS/FRICTION WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, PEOPLE AT WORK, OR ANYONE ELSE
HAD TROUBLE DOING THINGS SUPPOSED TO DO--LIKE WORKING, DOING SCHOOLWORK, OR TAKING CARE OF HOME/FAMILY
ANY EPISODE BEGAN AFTER DRINKING HEAVILY/MORE THAN USUAL
ANY EPISODE BEGAN WHEN EXPERIENCING BAD AFTEREFFECTS OF DRINKING
CONTINUED TO FEEL SAD FOR 1+ MONTHS AFTER STOPPED DRINKING/DRUG USE AFTER ONLY/ANY EPISODE IN LAST 12 MONTHS (BASED ON S4AQ15B IF ONLY 1 EPISODE)
ONLY/ALL EPISODE(S) PRIOR TO LAST 12 MONTHS BEGAN AFTER DRINKING/DRUG USE
AGE AT FIRST TIME SOUGHT HELP
Literature References I used:
Family history of alcoholism and gender: their combined effects on DSM-IV alcohol dependence and major depression.
This abstract by D. A. Dawson and B. F. Grant details the findings of a study conducted to find out whether a family history of alcohol abuse caused comorbid dependence, major depression or both more so in men or in women.
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Alcoholic Parents, and Later Risk of Alcoholism and Depression
This article by Robert F. Anda, M.D., M.S., Charles L. Whitfield, M.D., Vincent J. Felitti, M.D., Daniel Chapman, Ph.D., Valerie J. Edwards, Ph.D., Shanta R. Dube, M.P.H., and David F. Williamson, Ph.D. explores the associations between parental alcohol abuse and depression in adulthood via a survey that focused on the variables of experiencing childhood emotional, physical, and sexual abuse; witnessing domestic violence; parental separation or divorce; and growing up with drug-abusing, mentally ill, suicidal, or criminal household members.
Hypothesis:
My hypothesis is that if there is a history of alcohol abuse in the immediate family, it can directly lead to one's own alcohol abuse/dependence and depression.
