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Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública

2026, Number 4

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salud publica mex 2026; 68 (4)

Heavy alcohol consumption and psychological distress among the Mexican population by migration experience

Aracena-Genao B, Leyva-Flores R, Hoyos-Loya E, Berenzon-Gorn S, Bojórquez-Chapela I

Language: Spanish
References: 36
Page: 417-424
PDF size: 299.87 Kb.


ABSTRACT

Objective. To analyze the association between heavy alcohol consumption and psychological distress among the Mexican population, and its potential modification by migration experience in the United States. Materials and methods. Cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2025 National Survey on Drug, Alcohol, and Tobacco Consumption. Weighted prevalences were estimated, and Poisson regression models with robust variance were fitted (crude, adjusted and interaction models). Results. No significant association was observed in the crude model; however, after adjustment, heavy alcohol consumption was associated with a higher prevalence of psychological distress (PR= 1.43; 95%CI: 1.20,1.69). The association remained among individuals without migration experience (PR= 1.44; 95%CI: 1.20,1.72), but not among those with migration experience (PR= 1.19; 95%CI: 0.65,2.17), with no evidence of interaction (p= 0.558). Conclusions. Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with psychological distress, regardless of migration experience. These findings highlight the importance of addressing alcohol consumption in population-level mental health strategies.


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