Multilevel effects of alcohol among early adolescents in an urban school district

To examine how interpersonal interactions within and between the social networks formed by teachers, parents, students, and others shape the unique culture of the school, which in turn, reciprocally exerts a determining influence on each individual in the network.

Cross-sectional study exploring whether factors associated with alcohol use at the individual level also exert influence on the culture of a school.

Twelve middle schools within an urban school district in the Midwestern United States.

Seventh grade students (N = 1,620).

Lifetime alcohol use behaviors; mothers' and fathers' involvement in their child's education; and peer deviance.

The findings of this study suggest that as parents' involvement in education increases, and as peer deviance decreases, there are direct benefits to the child, and a protective effect for other children within the school when, in the aggregate, parental involvement increases and peer deviance decreases.

The effect of interventions to improve parent involvement and reduce peer deviance, with examinations at the individual-level and school-level, warrant future study.