Moderated-mediation effects of emotional intelligence and coping strategy on the relationship between generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder among African asylum seekers in Korea

ABSTRACTBackground There is a high prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder among immigrants in South Korea. The effect on health behavior is a major concern. However, epidemiological studies suggest that African asylum seekers with generalized anxiety disorders most often manifest co-occurring alcohol use disorder attributes. This study aimed to examine the mediating and moderating effect of emotional intelligence and coping strategies on the generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder of African asylum seekers in South Korea.Methods Using the SPSS PROCESS macro, a cross-sectional quantitative survey design, self-reported questionnaires were distributed to 302 African asylum seekers living in South Korea. The data was performed with descriptive statistics and moderated mediation analysis using ordinary least squares path analysis to investigate all research problems.Results The study path model showed a good fit and supported the hypothesis that generalized anxiety disorder has a detrimental effect on alcohol use disorder and a negative effect on emotional intelligence. Emotional intelligence was proven to be a mediator, and coping strategies moderated the relationship between generalized anxiety disorder and alcohol use disorder.Conclusions Emotional intelligence and coping strategies are critical constructs to help control African asylum seekers’ anxiety disorders and desire for alcohol consumption.KEYWORDS: Generalized anxiety disorderalcohol use disorderemotional intelligencecoping strategyAfrican asylum seekers Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Data availability statementThe raw data required to reproduce the above findings cannot be shared at this moment due technical reasons and it forms part of an ongoing study.Additional informationFundingThe author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.