Gender and Alcohol Use Trajectories during Emerging Adulthood

• In Event: Posters I

Abstract

The transition into young adulthood is a critical period of change for adolescents during which young individuals enter into adult roles and adopt behavioral patterns that have an impact on their life course trajectories (Arnett 2000). It is during this important developmental period that involvement in alcohol use tends to reach its peak (Casswell, Pledger & Pratap 2002; Johnston et al. 2013; SAMHSA 2012). Oftentimes, alcohol use and its potential covariates, including gender role orientation and sex, are typically studied cross-sectionally and have yet to be adequately studied over time. This project focuses on examining alcohol use trajectories, sex, and gender role orientation during emerging adulthood (ages 18-25). Alcohol use trajectories were estimated using group-based trajectory models using data from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Results indicate that both gender role orientation and sex are important covariates in exploring alcohol use trajectories during emerging adulthood.

Author

• Lia Chervenak Wiley, The University of Akron