Risk and Protective Factors Bearing on Change in Adolescents’ Alcohol-use Patterns: Reduction, Cessation, or Escalation

• In Event: Perceptions on Marijuana Legalization, Alcohol Use Patterns and Risk and Protective Factors

Abstract

This secondary data study examined some risk and protective factors involved when adolescent non-heavy drinkers and adolescent heavy drinkers curb or terminate their drinking. The temporal-ordered analysis evaluated 755 non-heavy drinkers and 374 heavy drinkers (all adolescents), a sample extracted from National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health. Results showed a positive association between likelihood of change from heavy drinking to non-drinking and 5 characteristics: African American, peer drinking, delinquent behaviors, maternal involvement, and maternal receipt of public assistance. A positive association was found between likelihood of change from heavy drinking to non-heavy drinking and African American. A further positive association was noted between likelihood of change from non-heavy drinking to non-drinking and maternal receipt of public assistance as well as adolescent’s drug treatment; moreover, such likelihood showed a negative association with peer drinking, emotional maltreatment, and depressive feelings. In addition, the likelihood of change from non-heavy drinking to heavy drinking was associated negatively with African American and positively with peer drinking and adolescent’s health. Implications for practice are discussed.

Authors

• Tyrone Cheng, University of Alabama

• Celia Lo, Texas Woman's University