260588 Psychosocial correlates of early alcohol initiation among adolescents

Monday, October 29, 2012

Matthew Klein, MPH , Department of Emergency Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
Esther Choo, MD, MPH , Department of Emergency Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
Megan Ranney, MD MPH , Department of Emergency Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
Background: Early age of onset of drinking (AOD) is associated with multiple poor health outcomes later in life. The psychosocial characteristics of adolescents with early AOD (age < 14) have not been well described. Objectives: To characterize adolescents with early AOD.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used the 2009 national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). Students > 15 who reported any alcohol use were included for analysis. Multivariable logistic regression tested associations between psychosocial risk factors and being an early initiator (AOD < 14), compared to a late initiator (AOD > 15).

Results: 10,233 students were included in the analysis; 6,456 (62.2%) identified as early initiators. Early initiators were more likely to be male (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.08, 1.40), but were otherwise demographically similar to late initiators. Lifetime use of cigarettes (OR 2.07, 95% CI 1.75, 2.46), marijuana (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.15, 1.55), and other drugs (2.00, 95% CI 1.70, 2.34); involvement in physical fights (OR 1.36, 95% CI 1.18, 1.57); and poor academic performance (OR 1.26, 95% CI 1.00, 1.59) were all significantly associated with early initiators.

Conclusions: Early AOD is associated with multiple psychosocial risk factors. Early initiation of alcohol use may place adolescents at greater risk of adopting other risky behaviors in high school; alternatively, these psychosocial factors may place students at risk for early initiation. Future studies should address the temporality between risky behaviors and early AOD. The high proportion of alcohol-using students reporting early AOD supports the need for interventions before high school.

Learning Areas:
Epidemiology
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe the psychosocial risk factors associated with early age of onset of drinking. Compare the psychosocial risk factors of early initiators with late initiators.

Keywords: Alcohol Use, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a second year medical student who has conducted prior research on risky behaviors in high school students. My interests focus on identifying at-risk adolescents to prevent future injury or violence.
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.

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