Background
In adolescence,
internalizing (e.g., anxious, depressive, and withdrawn) and externalizing
(e.g., aggressive, oppositional, delinquent, and hyper-active) symptoms are
related with alcohol use. However, the directionality among internalizing
symptoms, externalizing symptoms, and alcohol use during adolescence is
equivocal. Moreover, gender differences and similarities among these behaviors
are not definitive in existing literature.
Objectives
This study examined
longitudinal relationships between internalizing and externalizing symptoms and
past-month alcohol use among adolescent boys and girls.
Methods
Using longitudinal survey
data from a study of community-dwelling adolescents (n = 724), we estimated cross-lagged
structural equation models to test relations between internalizing and
externalizing symptoms (as measured by the Youth Self Report, YSR [Achenbach,
1991]) and self-report alcohol use in the past month among adolescents. Gender
differences were tested in a multiple group structural equation model.
Results
Alcohol use at age 12 was a
predictor of internalizing and externalizing symptoms at age 15 for both boys
and girls. With regard to gender differences, girls demonstrated an association
between internalizing symptoms and drinking at age 12, whereas boys showed a
stronger association between externalizing symptoms and drinking at age 18.
Conclusions/Importance
Early alcohol use is
problematic for youth, and results of this study lend support to prevention
programs for youth. Preventing or curbing early drinking may offset later
externalizing and internalizing symptoms, as well as ongoing alcohol use,
regardless of gender.
Below: Cross-lagged model of internalizing and externalizing symptoms and alcohol use
Full article at: http://goo.gl/2kdCDB
School of Social
Work, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Address correspondence to Hyun-Jin Jun, University of
Maryland, School of Social Work, 525 West Redwood Street, Baltimore, MD 21201,
USA;Email: ude.dnalyramu.wss@nujh
More at: https://twitter.com/hiv insight
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