The association of flushing with the alcohol use of Korean college students is examined. The physiological explanation has attributed the light alcohol use among Asians to their high propensity to flush, which protects them from heavy drinking. Facial...
The association of flushing with the alcohol use of Korean college students is examined. The physiological explanation has attributed the light alcohol use among Asians to their high propensity to flush, which protects them from heavy drinking. Facial flushing after drinking was used as the primary indicator of the flushing responses. The subjects were 329 college students in Taegu area. Female students drank less than male students and the effect of the flushing response had less impact on alcohol intake among men than among women. Although typical flushers drank less than nonflushers, the majority of drinkers were able to continue drinking despite having flushing. More female drinkers reported embarrassment than male students because of flushing. This study of female drinkers showed that flushing response may protect them from heavy drinking but the relationship among male drinkers was less pronounced. The results of this study indicated that the socio-cultural factors appeared to have a moderating effect on the relationship between the flushing response and alcohol use.