Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #118170

Jeanpaul Burnett, MPH¹, Chudley Werch, PhD², Michele J. Moore, PhD³, Edessa Jobli, MPH², Heather Myers, BS², and Sothear Luke, BSH². (1) Health Education & Behavior, University of Florida, Addictive & Health Behaviors Research Institute, 6852 Belfort Oaks Place, Jacksonville, FL 32216, (2) Addictive & Health Behaviors Research Institute, University of Florida, 6852 Belfort Oaks Place, Jacksonville, FL 32216, 904-281-0726, sluke@hhp.ufl.edu, (3) Center for Drug Prevention Research, University of North Florida, 4567 St. Johns Bluff Road South, Jacksonville, FL 32224

The purpose of this study was to examine theory-based risk and protective factors as predictors of adolescent heavy alcohol use (>5 drinks in a row) among current alcohol users. Participants (n=392) were students from a suburban high school in North Florida with a mean age of 15.4 years (SD=1.1). Sixty-two percent were females, with 64% White, 26% other ethnicities, and 11% Black. A confidential standardized survey was used to collect data in a classroom setting on alcohol use and theory-based risk and protective factors. Forty-six percent of the sample were current heavy users, with chi-square analysis showing that heavy drinkers were significantly older, had lower grades, increased incidence of siblings drinking, and increased school absenteeism than non-heavy drinkers (p's<.05). Multivariate analysis of variance revealed heavy drinkers as having significantly higher scores in drug use and initiation, risk and protective factors, and alcohol problems (p's<.01). Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of heavy alcohol use from significant variables found in the MANOVAs. Perceived peer prevalence, willingness to use alcohol, alcohol consequences, and engaging in violence were significant predictors of heavy users from current users of alcohol. Future interventions addressing heavy alcohol use could target these risk and protective factors to increase their effectiveness.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Recognize significant differences in theory-based risk and protective factors among current adolescent alcohol users and heavy users.
• Identify significant predictors of heavy alcohol use among current users.
• Discuss how research findings can be used in future preventive alcohol interventions for adolescents.

Keywords: Adolescents, Alcohol Use

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.