245004 Young males and high-risk drinking behaviours: Personal, group, contextual and environmental factors

Monday, October 31, 2011

Ashley Wettlaufer, MA, BSc , Social and Epidemiological Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
Elizabeth Manafo, MHSc , School of Nutrition, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada
Norman Giesbrecht, PhD , Social & Epidemiological Research Department, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
Allethia Francis-Liburd, RN, BScN, BAS , Region of Peel, Brampton, ON, Canada
Tom Martin, BScHP , Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention - Substance Misuse Prevention Team, Peel Region Public Health, Brampton, ON, Canada
Purpose: To identify factors that influence males ages 15-24 to engage in high-risk drinking behaviours leading to alcohol-related harm through a systematic review. Methods: This systematic review searched articles from relevant online indexes. Papers were critically appraised and triaged using a priori criteria with a focus on male adolescents/ young adults, and international research. Original studies or high-quality reviews with a strong research design were considered to be of highest quality. Data was extracted using a standardized template which coded papers acording to variables including study design, independent and dependant variabes and findings. Approximately 4,000 articles were screened of which 110 of highest quality were selected for extensive assessment. Results: Genetic and biological factors operate within the context of environment and impact drinking patterns by influencing metabolic and cognitive processes as well as developmental changes. Parents influence adolescent drinking behaviour through modeling and close family relationships; peers however, surpass the influence of parental relationships likely due to their role in shaping perceived drinking norms. Furthermore, drinking behaviours vary according to context with more drinking occurring in less restrictive environments, supportive of drinking for example, fraternity and off-campus housing. Alcohol policies, such as campus alcohol bans and decreased alcohol outlet density surrounding campuses, which shape drinking contexts, decrease the prevalence of drinking among the target population. Implications and future research: It is recommended that future initiatives consider the influences of biology, social relationships, and drinking context on drinking behaviours and that further research be conducted on cultural influences on drinking behaviours.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1) Identify factors that influence adolescent and young adult males to engage in high-risk drinking behaviours leading to alcohol-related harm 2) Discuss policy and public health practice opportunities focused on reducing rates of high-risk drinking behaviour leading to alcohol-related harm among adolescent and young adult males 3) Discuss future research opportunities to enhance the understanding of factors that influence the drinking behaviours of adolescent and young adult males

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I completed the systematic literature review on factors that influence adolescent and young adult males to engage in high-risk drinking behaviours leading to alcohol-related harm, with support from the co-authors
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.