The sociology of mental health and illness bases its focuses on the social and cultural factors that lead to mental illness as well as the popular practices and conceptions of mental disorders. Looking at the sociology of mental health and illness is important for enhancing patient-centered care to improve both clinical outcomes and the patient-reported level of care. One main mental health concern in the present day that I would like to research more is alcohol abuse. Alcohol abuse is a critical mental health concern on a personal level because of the observed effects of alcoholism. Growing up, I knew family members such as my father and grandfather, who have suffered in their lives because of alcohol abuse and I can see the same pattern being repeated here at campus. Knowing the end result of alcoholism from my family members and seeing the onset of alcoholism on campus has peeked my interest to look into the sociology of alcohol abuse.
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism is caused by the interchangeable and self-reinforcing relationship between one’s subjective and objective individual and social factors. With the findings presented, I will analyze alcohol abuse through the lens of the four sociological approaches (Etiological, social psychological, social response, and social constructionist). Reviewing the literature, it was disturbing yet predictable that alcohol abuse could be analyzed through each of sociological approaches.
There has been an increase in alcohol dependence in the society especially seen in youth, a lot of literature presented looks into the origin of alcohol abuse where the focus is on establishing a causation relationship by determining risk factors. Correlating with this, studies have considered alcohol abuse disorder with one’s genetic, psychological and environmental makeup (Giorgi & Higuera, 2016). In regards, to genetic makeup, while there occurs some level of consensus that genetics do not guarantee having a problem with alcohol, one can inherit some genes that influence alcohol dependence. In regards to psychological makeup, alcohol abuse has been shown to be comorbid to other mental disorders such as depression and emotional distress (Giorgi & Higuera, 2016). Finally, in relation to one’s environment, alcohol abuse has been shown to be a result of one using alcohol as an abnormal coping strategy to different stressors such as loneliness, boredom, problems with one’s personal and social relationships with family and friends among others (Giorgi & Higuera, 2016). This shows that most of the literature on alcohol abuse takes on an etiological approach whereby, risk factors developed from a root cause analysis are used to determine underlying factors that can result in alcohol dependence. This approach is usually taken because the exact causes of alcohol abuse cannot be clearly determined.
Understanding the impact that social and cultural structures have on one’s actions and consciousness and the self-reinforcing relationship these variables share is significant to sociology. Therefore, a sociologist would look into how the behavior, feelings, and thoughts of others impact on alcohol use and abuse. While the earlier risk factors cannot be counted out, they do not really fall within the realm of sociology owing to their biological foundations. Typically, I feel that, a sociologist would apply the social constructionist perspective to alcohol abuse and alcoholism. This approach focuses on the development of shared notions in the world which result in shared assumptions, group-think. In line with this approach, self-concept is defined as a mechanism of interaction with one’s world from which social consciousness develops (Allsop, 2013). There is a correlating and visible relational pattern of social behavior and experience.
Taking alcoholic beverages is viewed socially acceptable as a way to celebrate, socialize, and “wind down”. Therefore, alcoholic beverages are often normalized in social settings where people see alcohol as a way to loosen up and calm down (Allsop, 2013). This results in social dynamics of normalcy in correlation to alcohol usage. The result is the reinforcement of alcohol use in social events as a form of conformist (Sudhinaraset, Wigglesworth, & Takeuchi, 2016; Allsop, 2013). The same is also enforced by the media through the portrayal of alcohol as a necessity in social functions.
Additionally, a psychological model of normalcy can be established as it reinforces conformity to the use of alcohol to cope with emotional distress as outlined by the norms and regulations of the society. This way, the society continually shows alcohol use as a normal behavior in social events and to cope with emotional distress (Sudhinaraset, Wigglesworth, & Takeuchi, 2016). Focusing on social events and emotional distress, it is clear that alcohol abuse affects the youth who are outgoing and have a lot to deal with as they try navigating their life and their transition into adulthood. Trying to balance their studies, social life, and careers. It is likely that this may be the reason why college students, especially males, are inclined to abuse alcohol either through casual drinking with friends or binge drinking during a social function.
Taking away the risk factors outlined through the etiological approach, we find that through social construction, alcohol consumption becomes a key behavior in social functions. Alcohol tolerance levels can gradually increase which can then lead to increased alcohol intake with time (Giorgi & Higuera, 2016). Alcohol abuse and alcoholism occur as a consequence where some people may not even realize that their drinking is out of control because of the normalization of their drinking habits (Allsop, 2013). In regard to this, combining the initial etiological approach and social constructionist approach, it is apparent that there is an overlap of subjective and objective factors whereby, risk factors represent the subjectivity behind alcohol abuse and social conformity represents the objectivity in alcohol abuse. This way, the main barrier in dealing with alcohol abuse is understanding the relationship between subjective and objective factors. This is because alcohol abuse begins out of social conformity, but it is later exacerbated by the underlying risk factors or it leads to their development. This shows the reality of a self-reinforcing relationship between the subjectivity and objectivity of alcohol abuse. This self- reinforcing relationship then creates a negative impact on one’s mental health due to the growth of alcohol dependency which can then slowly become out of their control.