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Psychosocial factors in adolescent drinking contexts
1Division of Biometry and Epidemiology, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, Rockville, Maryland 20857.
Journal of Studies on Alcohol
|November 1, 1987
Summary
Adolescent drinking contexts are strongly linked to perceived social norms supporting alcohol use, influencing 55-58% of drinking behaviors. Other factors like personal attitudes and environment play smaller roles.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Public Health
Background:
- Adolescent drinking is a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the factors influencing adolescent drinking contexts is crucial for prevention efforts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the relationship between environmental and personality characteristics of adolescent students and their drinking contexts.
- To identify the most significant predictors of adolescent drinking contexts.
Main Methods:
- Canonical correlation analyses were used to explore relationships between variables.
- Environmental and personality characteristics were assessed in relation to drinking contexts.
Main Results:
- Perceived normative support for drinking was the strongest predictor, explaining 55% of variance in drinking contexts for males and 58% for females.
- Positive functions of drinking, personal attitudes, values, and environmental contexts showed smaller associations.
Conclusions:
- Social norms are a primary driver of adolescent drinking contexts.
- Further research should investigate antecedent networks influencing access to diverse drinking environments.