Effects of Family Factors on the Development of Alcohol-related Problems Among Males from Pre- adolescence to Adulthood

• Main Author: E. Gail Horton (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: University of North Florida, 2006-12-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 2643-6248
• Keywords: Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: Florida Public Health Review, Vol 3, Pp 26-34 (2006)

Alcohol use is a leading risk factor in suicides, homicides and unintentional injuries (including motor vehicle crashes and drownings) among adolescents, and is associated with adolescent health risk behaviors such as cigarette smoking, illicit drug use, and risky sexual behavior. The purpose of this study was to determine if family factors would predict alcohol-related problems as the study cohort transitioned into young adulthood, and to determine if early alcohol use remained a significant influence on the development of alcohol-related problems in young adulthood. Results of the analyses indicate that three of the family factors measured in mid-adolescence were statistically significant predictors of later problematic use of alcohol. Family alcohol problems both in early and mid-adolescence were associated with problematic alcohol use in young adulthood. This finding is consonant with previous research that has shown that parental modeling of substance use has a strong influence on adolescents' decision to use.