Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 20, 2026
11:01
Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure and Quantification of Social Behavior in Adult Rats
Published on: December 14, 2014
Health values buffer social-environmental risks for adolescent alcohol misuse
A Reifman1, G M Barnes, B A Dintcheff
1Department of Human Development and Family Studies, College of Human Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock 79409-1162, USA. AReifman@hs.ttu.edu
Summary
Adolescents valuing health showed less alcohol misuse despite social risks. A health-valuing attitude acts as a protective factor against negative environmental influences on adolescent drinking behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Background:
- Adolescent alcohol misuse is a significant public health concern.
- Social and environmental factors are known contributors to adolescent substance use.
- Understanding protective factors is crucial for developing effective prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine if a health-valuing attitude can mitigate the impact of social-environmental risks on adolescent alcohol misuse.
- To investigate the potential buffering effect of health values in the context of adolescent drinking.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from a representative sample of 17- to 20-year-old adolescents.
- Construction of a social-environmental risk index including factors like peer drinking and parental monitoring.
- Statistical analysis to test for interaction effects between risk factors and health-valuing attitude.
Main Results:
- A significant buffering interaction was found, indicating that high social-environmental risk was associated with greater alcohol misuse only in adolescents with a low value on health.
- Adolescents with a high value on health did not show increased alcohol misuse even when exposed to high environmental risk.
- The buffering effect was observed for total alcohol consumption and for consuming five or more drinks at a time.
Conclusions:
- A health-valuing attitude can serve as a protective factor, buffering adolescents against the negative effects of social-environmental risks on alcohol misuse.
- Promoting health-valuing attitudes may be a key strategy in preventing adolescent alcohol misuse.
- Interventions should consider both risk reduction and the cultivation of protective attitudes.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
02:05Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
People can go to great lengths to protect their self-image and present themselves in ways that they want others to see them. Sociologist Erving Goffman presented the idea that a person is like an actor on a stage. Calling his theory dramaturgy, Goffman believed that we use “impression management” to present ourselves to others as we hope to be perceived. Each situation is a new scene, and individuals perform different roles depending on who is present (Goffman, 1959). Think about the way you...
01:27CNS Depressants: Alcohol and Nicotine
Ethanol, a clear colorless alcohol, has been consumed by humans for millennia, but its effects on the body are far from benign. At lower doses, it induces decreased inhibitions and loquaciousness, leading to its social appeal. However, it can cause severe consequences at higher doses, such as coma and respiratory depression, due to its zero-order elimination kinetics. Chronic ethanol abuse wreaks havoc on multiple organ systems, particularly the CNS and the liver. Abrupt cessation of ethanol...
01:30Stress and Mental Health
Chronic stress profoundly affects mental health, significantly influencing mood, behavior, and overall quality of life. Research closely links chronic stress with mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and substance use disorders. Ongoing exposure to stress can lead to physiological and psychological changes, initiating a cycle of emotional distress and maladaptive coping mechanisms.
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
Individuals with depression often experience challenges in both their personal and professional...
01:26Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Stress often leads to unhealthy habits like smoking, excessive drinking, and overeating, which offer short-term relief but ultimately increase long-term health risks. These behaviors create a cycle that temporarily lowers stress levels but can result in severe long-term health consequences. Breaking these habits is essential to reduce the risk of chronic diseases and improve overall well-being. Three primary changes that support better health include quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake,...
01:28Self-Help Support Groups
Self-help support groups are voluntary, community-based organizations that provide a platform for individuals with shared concerns to exchange support, insights, and practical strategies for coping with life challenges. Typically led by group members or paraprofessionals, these groups form a cornerstone of mental health care, especially in reaching populations that are underserved by traditional healthcare systems.
Accessibility and Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary strengths of self-help...
Accessibility and Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary strengths of self-help...