A longitudinal study of alcohol use and antisocial behaviour in young people
Open Access
- 30 October 2007
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Alcohol and Alcoholism
- Vol. 43 (2), 204-214
- https://doi.org/10.1093/alcalc/agm147
Abstract
Aims: To examine the direction of causation between young people's antisocial behaviour and alcohol (mis)use in the longer and shorter term, together with their joint effects on alcohol-related trouble. Methods: A longitudinal study (2586 pupils) supplied data, allowing exploration of the causal effects of alcohol (mis)use and antisocial behaviour between ages 11 and 15, using structural equation models of longer and shorter-term relationships and joint-effects models in respect of alcohol-related trouble at age 15. This method allowed us to evaluate which of three hypotheses, described as ‘disinhibition’ [alcohol (mis)use causes or facilitates antisocial behaviour], ‘susceptibility’ [antisocial behaviour causes alcohol (mis)use] or ‘reciprocal’ [alcohol (mis)use causes antisocial behaviour and the reverse] receives most support, both overall and by gender, social class, and drinking context. Results: Overall, the results support the susceptibility hypothesis, particularly in the longer-term models. There is no support for ‘pure’ disinhibition. However, in the shorter-term and joint-effects models (i.e. as the time lag becomes shorter), there is evidence that in some gender, social class, or drinking contexts, in addition to antisocial behaviour causing alcohol (mis)use, the reverse also applies. Conclusions: Antisocial behaviour is the main predictor of alcohol (mis)use and alcohol-related trouble, with alcohol (mis)use impacting only modestly on antisocial behaviour and alcohol-related trouble in the shorter term.Keywords
This publication has 30 references indexed in Scilit:
- Network 'norms' or 'styles' of 'drunken comportment'?Health Education Research, 2004
- Voice-DISC Identified DSM-IV Disorders Among 15-Year-Olds in the West of ScotlandJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 2003
- Young Adult Drug Use and Delinquency: Childhood Antecedents and Adolescent MediatorsJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 1996
- A longitudinal investigation of alcohol use and aggression in adolescence.Journal of Studies on Alcohol, Supplement, 1993
- Effects of alcohol on human aggression: An intergrative research review.Psychological Bulletin, 1990
- A longitudinal study of antisocial behaviors in early adolescence as predictors of late adolescent substance use: Gender and ethnic group differences.Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 1990
- Parent, Peer and Personal Determinants of Adolescent DrinkingBritish Journal of Addiction, 1989
- Longitudinally Foretelling Drug Usage in Adolescence: Early Childhood Personality and Environmental PrecursorsChild Development, 1988
- ALCOHOL AND EXPECTANCY — I. PERCEIVED SEX DIFFERENCES IN THE EFFECTS OF DRINKINGAlcohol and Alcoholism, 1984
- Teenage Drinking in South‐West ScotlandBritish Journal of Addiction to Alcohol & Other Drugs, 1977