(PS9-52) Social Functioning Impairment, Mental Health, and Drinking History Among Chinese College Students

Background: Social functioning is a crucial part of creating connections. Individuals with higher social functioning impairment may struggle with building community, and report lower quality of life. After the pandemic, college students increasingly report loneliness and mental health struggles. In this study, we explored the relationships between mental health indicators such as anxiety, depression, stress, emotion dysregulation, and insomnia with social functioning impairment in a sample of Chinese college students. We also explored whether drinking history is associated with social functioning impairment.

Methods:  

Sample: 779 undergraduate students (Mage = 20.54 , SD = 3.652) from 29 provinces in China took part in a survey measuring their reported well-being. There were 286 male students and 493 female students, with 82.4% of participants living on campus in dormitories. About half (44%) of the participants came from middle-class families. 

Procedure: Participants were recruited from universities to take an online wellness survey. Measures included the GAD-7, PHQ-9, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS), Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and a Chinese Social Functioning Impairment Index. Drinking history was assessed on a 3-point Likert scale, where 1 = doesn’t drink, 2 = social drinking, and 3 = currently drinking alcohol more than 3 times a week.

Data Analysis: Data were analyzed using SPSS. A multiple linear regression analysis was used, with social functioning entered as the outcome variable and all other variables (anxiety, emotion dysregulation, insomnia, stress, and drinking history) were entered as predictor variables. Variables did not violate assumptions for regression analysis and did not exhibit high levels of multicollinearity (VIF < 3.00). 

Results: The overall model predicting social functioning impairment (SFI) explained approximately 49% of the variance in SFI scores, F(5,773) = 149.064, R-square = .491, p < .001. Mental health indicators such as depression, anxiety, stress, DERS and insomnia positively predicted social functioning impairment, all ps < .001. However, while controlling for mental health indicators previously mentioned, drinking history was negatively associated with social functioning impairment, Beta = –0.75, p = .004. 



Discussion: Greater levels of anxiety, stress, insomnia, and difficulties in emotion regulation were positively associated with social functioning impairment. Interestingly, participants who drink more reported positive social functioning when controlling for negative mental health outcomes. These results could potentially be explained by the social nature of drinking as a way to celebrate achievements, reconnect with friends, and maintain social networks.