Bo-eun leads the digital content team. She has covered foreign affairs, North Korea, tech, economy and gender issues at The Korea Times. She did a short stint at the South China Morning Post in Hong Kong, where she obtained a new perspective on news production and life. Small sources of joy for her are lounging in the sun, having a good latte and swimming.
Desperate housewives fall victim to alcoholism
Housewives are increasingly becoming exposed to the risks of alcoholism, data from health-related organizations show. / Korea Times file
By Kim Bo-eun
By Kim Bo-eun
Housewives, especially those in their 40s, are becoming increasingly vulnerable to alcoholism, especially at this time of the year, according to health-related organizations.
“Housewives assume the large burden of work for cooking, dishing during traditional holidays like Seollal, which comes as a new semester for children begins,” said Heo Seong-tae director of Dasarang Central Hospital.
“When they have a hard time mentally and physically due to hormonal changes, the work burden will be even more stressful.”
According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA), the number of female patients is double that of male patients for somatoform disorders, and March was the month with the most patients.
Somatoform disorders entail digestive problems, headaches, chest pains and stomach problems arising from stress.
Patients report pain, but tests at hospitals do not reveal any serious disorders, so many patients resort to drinking.
Women in their 40s and above were also found to be the most prone to becoming addicted to alcohol or developing alcohol-related mental disorders.
This is attributed to the fact that women in their 40s frequently develop depression as they go through menopause.
Also contributing is a change in drinking culture, with more people choosing to drink at home.
Household purchases of alcohol reached a record high last year, as consumers spent a monthly average of 11,267 won on alcoholic drinks, according to Statistics Korea last month.
Heo cautioned that addiction for women mostly occurred because they started drinking alone at home.
“Once their husbands and children leave the house after the women have been busy attending to them in the morning, housewives feel a sense of emptiness,” he said. “If they have alcoholic drinks at home, they are likely to turn to drinking.”
“Family members should take part in familial events and show support for their mothers and wives.”