NCJ Number
213175
Journal
Substance Use & Misuse Volume: 41 Issue: 1 Dated: 2006 Pages: 71-86
Date Published
2006
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the relative importance of three family-related risk factors (family structure, perception of excessive drinking in the family, and family bonding) in predicting adolescent frequent and excessive drinking.
Abstract
Results indicated that family bonding was most significantly related to both adolescent frequent and excessive drinking, followed by perception of excessive drinking in the family and finally family structure. When association with peers who drink excessively was adjusted for, family bonding remained the predominant predictor but family structure became more significantly related to adolescent frequent and excessive drinking than perception of excessive drinking in the family. The findings suggest a graduated importance of family-related risk factors in that parents who spend their free time with their children and listen to their children’s concerns may help minimize the risk of frequent and excessive drinking regardless of whether they are heavy drinkers themselves or live without a partner. Data were drawn from the 2002 “Health Behavior in School-Aged Children (HBSC)” survey conducted in Switzerland with a sample of 3,127 eighth and ninth graders. The HBSC provides a comprehensive picture of adolescent health indicators and the factors that might influence them, including questions on topics such as socioeconomic inequality, peers, school, well-being, substance use, physical and sedentary activities, eating habits, body image, sexual activities, violence, and injuries. To test the hypothesis that the three family-related risk factors would have a gradual importance in predicting adolescent frequent and excessive drinking, the analysis used structural equation modeling to calculate three models separately for each of the two alcohol measures. Tables, figure, references