A Longitudinal Study of the Effects of Religiosity on Adolescent Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Related Problems

Abstract Background: Although accumulating studies indicate that alcohol-specific self-control can be useful in predicting adolescent alcohol use, little is known about its specificity. This longitudinal study aimed to advance our understanding of domain-specific self-control by examining whether alcohol-specific self-control mediates the effect of general self-control on adolescent alcohol use or has generalizing effects by also mediating the effect of general self-control on other behavior requiring self-control (adolescent digital media use and smoking).Methods: Data from 906 adolescents aged 11-14 years who were enrolled in the Dutch study Prevention of Alcohol Use in Students were used. Data were collected using online questionnaires at four annual measurements. Results: Structural equation modelling revealed that higher alcohol-specific self-control fully mediated the effect of higher general self-control on alcohol use. Alcohol-specific self-control did not mediate the effect of higher general self-control on digital media use, but did partially mediate the effect of higher general self-control on smoking. Conclusions: These results suggest that alcohol-specific self-control is domain-specific, but not necessarily substance-specific. The domain-specificity of alcohol-specific self-control provides evidence for its theoretical relevance for the explanation of adolescent alcohol use. It also suggests leverage points for intervention programs focusing on improving alcohol-specific self-control to reduce adolescent alcohol use. Trial registration. The trial protocol (NTR649) was approved by the Medical Ethical Committee.

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Adolescent Alcohol Use

The Oxford Handbook of Adolescent Substance Abuse ◽

10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199735662.013.007 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 130-168

Author(s):

Tammy Chung ◽

Kristina M. Jackson

Keyword(s):

Alcohol Use ◽

Externalizing Behavior ◽

Childhood And Adolescence ◽

Genetic Liability ◽

Adolescent Alcohol Use ◽

Adolescent Alcohol ◽

Biological Substrates ◽

Problematic Alcohol Use ◽

Alcohol Related Problems ◽

Internalizing And Externalizing

Alcohol is the substance most commonly used by youth. Problematic alcohol use can be considered a developmental disorder, which typically has its origins in an individual’s genetic liability, temperament, and experiences in childhood and adolescence. To provide a context for the emergence of alcohol use in adolescence, this chapter briefly reviews biological substrates of risk that include genetic liability and processes of developmental maturation (e.g., puberty, brain development). The chapter then addresses the prevalence of alcohol use and alcohol-related problems in adolescence, trajectories of youth alcohol use, and internalizing and externalizing behavior pathways associated with adolescent alcohol use. Risk and protective factors influencing adolescent alcohol use are discussed as targets to guide developmentally informed prevention and intervention.

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