141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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278380
Developmental patterns of alcohol use among Chinese adolescents: A longitudinal study


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Shaobing Su, Med, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Danhua Lin, PhD, Institute of Developmental Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
Xiaoming Li, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Shan Qiao, PhD, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Prevention Research Center, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI
Bingxin Li, BS, Leliu Fuan Middle School, Foshan, China
Guoliang Zhong, BD, Enrui Education and Counseling Center, Foshan, China
BACKGROUND: Existing studies suggested that alcohol use increased over time in adolescence. However, data are limited regarding the developmental patterns of alcohol use among adolescents in China where alcohol use is considered as a social acceptable behavior. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the developmental patterns of alcohol use over time and analyze the gender and grade differences in terms of the pattern among Chinese adolescents.

METHODS: Longitudinal data among 709 Grade 10th and Grade 11th adolescents were collected from two middle schools in Guangdong Province in China over 6 months. Demographic variables, drinking frequency and drinking quantity were collected in both baseline and 6-month follow-up. According to the longitudinal pattern of alcohol use from baseline to follow-up, adolescents were classified as non-risk group (i.e., consistent non-user at two time points), low-risk group (i.e., consistent light users or become light users from heavy users) and high-risk group (i.e., consistent heavy drinkers or become heavy drinkers from the earlier stages).

RESULTS: (1) The proportions of light users (37.2% v.s. 26.7%) and heavy users (28.4% v.s. 20.8%) were significantly greater at follow-up compared to those at baseline. (2) Male adolescents were more likely to be identified as low-risk (29.1%) or high-risk group (42.9%) compared to female counterparts (25.3% and 31.6%). No significant grade difference in terms of developmental patterns of alcohol use was found.

CONCLUSION: Alcohol use of Chinese adolescents steadily increased over time, especially for males. Further effective gender-specific prevention and intervention is needed to reduce adolescents' alcohol use.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Compare the patterns of alcohol use between Wave I and Wave II among Chinese adolescents. Analyze how patterns of alcohol use develop over time. Analyze group differences of important demographic variables in terms of developmental patterns of alcohol use. Discuss the significance of findings from the current study for future empirical and interventional research.

Keyword(s): Alcohol, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been doing some empirical and intervention research regarding alcohol use, resilience and mental health among general and some adverse or high-risk population (e.g. migrant children, left-behind children, HIV-affected children and female sex workers) for several years.
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.

Back to: 4257.0: Drinking Patterns and Consequences in an International Context