Family and Individual Influences on Alcohol Use from Early to Late Adolescence

• In Event: 3-167 - The Intergenerational Transmission of Substance Use: Preventive and Contributing Mechanisms

Integrative Statement

Alcohol is the most commonly used substance for adolescents in the U.S. (SAMHSA, 2016). Those who consume alcohol are at risk for both alcohol misuse and alcohol-related problems (Pitkänen, Kokko, Lyyra, & Pulkkinen, 2008). Family and individual factors may influence youths’ decision and propensity to drink alcohol. For example, parental use of alcohol makes youth vulnerable to drinking, especially that of fathers (Diggs, Neppl, & Lohman, 2017). Sibling consumption of alcohol can also influence youths’ decision to drink (Samek, McGue, Keyes, Iacono, 2014). Individual factors, such as depression (Briere et al., 2014) and delinquency (Gatti et al., 2015) play a role in the continuity of alcohol use. Much of the current research examines these influences separately, despite the combination of both individual and family factors in adolescents’ lives. Therefore, the present study examines the impact of familial and individual factors on adolescent alcohol use from age 13 to 19.

Hypotheses
It is expected that mother, father, sibling, and early adolescent alcohol use at time 1 will be associated with youth alcohol use at time 2. Adolescent drinking, delinquency, and depression at time 2 will be associated with their alcohol use at time 3.

Methods
Study Population
Participants come from a two-decade longitudinal study that has followed rural White youth and their families through adolescence, selected by economic dislocation. The present study examines the influence of parent alcohol use, sibling alcohol use, and early adolescent alcohol use at ages 13-14 on adolescent alcohol use, depressive symptoms, and delinquency at ages 15-16. These variables were used to predict alcohol use when youth were 18-19 years old.

Measures
At time 1 (age 13-14), parents reported on the number of days in the past month they had one alcoholic drink, two or three drinks, and four or more drinks. Siblings reported on their frequency of alcohol consumption in the past year and observed harsh parenting (hostility, angry coercion, and antisocial behavior) was assessed. At time 2 (age 15-16), adolescent alcohol use, delinquent behaviors, (i.e. beating someone up), and depressive symptoms (i.e. feelings of worthlessness) were assessed via self-report. Adolescent alcohol use was self-reported at times 1, 2, and 3 (age 18-19).

Results and Discussion
Results of the fully recursive path model in Mplus V.8 indicated that early adolescent alcohol use predicted delinquency and depressive symptoms at ages 15-16, and drinking in middle and late adolescence. Mother harsh parenting and father alcohol use were associated with adolescent delinquency. Sibling use of alcohol was associated with adolescent alcohol use at time 2. Finally, drinking at ages 15-16 predicted use at ages 18-19. In the final model, mediation will be tested as well as moderation by sibling and parent age, and adolescent gender. Results suggest consumption of alcohol is consistent from early to late adolescence, thus it is important to consider how family and individual factors contribute to drinking. Understanding such influences may lend support for adequate resources to reduce the consumption of alcohol, delinquent behavior, and depressive symptoms, which may contribute to the intergenerational transmission of drinking.

Authors

• Olivia Diggs, Iowa State University
  Presenting Author

• Tricia K Neppl, Iowa State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Sarah Bickelhaupt, Iowa State University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Brenda J. Lohman, Iowa State University
  Non-Presenting Author