Satisfaction with job and family life, and association with smoking and alcohol drinking behaviors among young men in Malawi: analysis from a multiple indicator survey

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to investigate if satisfaction with job and family life has any connection with smoking and alcohol drinking behavior among young men in Malawi. RESULTS: Results of multivariable logistic regression analysis indicate that compared to men who were unemployed, those who were dissatisfied were 0.90 times less likely to be non-smokers [OR = 0.90; 95% CI = 0.36–2.24], 0.83 times [OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.63–1.08] as likely to try drinking alcohol. Among those who reported being satisfied with job, the odds of trying alcohol was relatively more [OR = 0.77; 95% CI = 0.63–0.93], however the odds of cigarette smoking were less [OR = 1.05; 95% CI = 0.48–2.31] relative to those who were unemployed. Results also showed that not being satisfied with overall life increased the odds of smoking and alcohol drinking [OR = 0.60; 95% CI = 0.24–1.46] and [OR = 0.95; 95% CI = 0.72–1.24] respectively compared to those who were satisfied with overall life.