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Sjödin L, Raninen J, Larm P. Early Drinking Onset and Subsequent Alcohol Use in Late Adolescence: a Longitudinal Study of Drinking Patterns. J Adolesc Health 2024; 74:1225-1230. [PMID: 38493398 DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2024.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The age of drinking onset is a central concept for both policy and prevention of alcohol-related harm, yet evidence on the predictive value of the age of onset is lacking. This study compares alcohol outcomes of adolescents who started to drink early with those who started later, and tests if associations are moderated by other explanatory factors. METHODS Data from a two-wave longitudinal prospective cohort survey with a Swedish nationwide sample of 4,018 adolescents aged 15/16 years at baseline (T1) and 17/18 years at follow-up (T2) were used. Outcome variables at T2 were Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)-C, risky drinking, and binge drinking monthly or more often. A vast number of explanatory factors at T1 were controlled for. RESULTS Early drinking onset predicted later higher AUDIT-C scores (β = 0.57, p value < .001), and higher probability of risky drinking (odds ratio = 1.95, 95% confidence interval = 1.56-2.44), and binge drinking (odds ratio = 1.38, confidence interval = 1.06-1.81), controlled for other explanatory factors. If binge drinking frequency at T1 was included, the associations remained for AUDIT-C and risky drinking, but not for binge drinking at T2. No significant interactions between early drinking onset and the explanatory factors were found. DISCUSSION Early drinking onset predicts subsequent higher alcohol consumption in late adolescence. Adolescents who had an early drinking onset drank more after 2 years than their peers who started later. The age of drinking onset is an independent predictor of alcohol use outcomes, beyond the effect of age of binge drinking onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Sjödin
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Public Health and Caring Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Jonas Raninen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Peter Larm
- Department of Public Health, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Lee YY, Slade T, Chatterton ML, Le LKD, Perez JK, Faller J, Chapman C, Newton NC, Sunderland M, Teesson M, Mihalopoulos C. Age at first drink and its influence on alcohol use behaviours in young adulthood: Evidence from an Australian household-based panel study. Prev Med 2024; 181:107898. [PMID: 38367869 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2024.107898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Public health guidelines recommend delaying the initiation age for alcohol. However, the causal link between age-at-first-drink (AFD) and future alcohol use in young adulthood is uncertain. This study examined the association between AFD and alcohol-related outcomes at age 20 years using an Australian sample. METHODS Data were obtained from Waves 1-19 (years 2001-2019) of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey on 20-year-olds with responses across ≥3 consecutive waves (n = 2278). The AFD for each respondent (between 15 and 20 years) was analysed relative to Australian legal drinking age (18 years). Inverse probability treatment weighting was used to evaluate associations between AFD and four outcomes at age 20 years: risk of current alcohol use; quantity of weekly alcohol consumption; risk of binge drinking; and frequency of binge drinking. Adjustments were made for confounders (e.g., heavy drinking by parents). Robustness of study findings was evaluated using several diagnostic tests/sensitivity analyses. RESULTS Among 20-year-olds, those with an AFD of 15-16 years consumed significantly more alcohol per week compared to an AFD of 18 years. Additionally, 20-year-old drinkers with an AFD of 16 years were significantly more likely to binge drink (though this association was likely confounded). An inverse dose-response relationship was observed between AFD and weekly alcohol consumption at 20 years, where a higher AFD led to lower alcohol consumption. CONCLUSION Study findings indicate an association between a higher AFD and consuming less alcohol in young adulthood, which could potentially support the scale-up of prevention programs to delay AFD among Australian adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Yi Lee
- Monash University Health Economics Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Tim Slade
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mary Lou Chatterton
- Monash University Health Economics Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Deakin Health Economics, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
| | - Long Khanh-Dao Le
- Monash University Health Economics Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Joahna K Perez
- Monash University Health Economics Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Jan Faller
- Monash University Health Economics Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Cath Chapman
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nicola C Newton
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthew Sunderland
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Maree Teesson
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Cathrine Mihalopoulos
- Monash University Health Economics Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia; Deakin Health Economics, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
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Gardner LA, Stockings E, Champion KE, Mather M, Newton NC. Alcohol initiation before age 15 predicts earlier hazardous drinking: A survival analysis of a 7-year prospective longitudinal cohort of Australian adolescents. Addiction 2024; 119:518-529. [PMID: 37926434 DOI: 10.1111/add.16376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Early alcohol use may predict later alcohol problems, but the magnitude of this effect and impact of delayed onset remain uncertain. This study measured age-based differences in progression from first full alcoholic drink to hazardous drinking in one of the largest and most recent prospective cohorts of Australian adolescents. DESIGN, SETTINGS, PARTICIPANTS AND MEASUREMENT A 7-year (2012-19) prospective longitudinal cohort of 2082 Australian adolescents was established from the Climate and Preventure (cohort 1) and Climate Schools Combined (cohort 2) studies. Participants completed surveys annually from ages 13 to 20 years. Interval censored survival analyses were conducted with first episode of hazardous drinking [three or more on proxy Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT-C)] as the survival end-point, controlling for age, sex and mental health symptomatology. Onset of hazardous drinking was expressed as hazard ratios (HRs), and median survival time (years) was used to model first onset of hazardous alcohol use in survival curves. FINDINGS Compared with those aged 15 or older, those who had their first full drink at 12 or younger had significantly elevated risk of hazardous drinking onset during the study period [log (HR): 9.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 7.0-12.0, P < 0.001]. Compared with those who had their first full drink at ages 13-14, those who delayed until 15 or older had significantly later onset of hazardous drinking; 1.63 years for males (95% CI = 1.31-1.92, P < 0.001) and 1.50 for females (95% CI = 1.15-1.81, P < 0.001), resulting in a median age of onset of hazardous drinking of > 19 for both sexes (male: 19.05 years, 95% CI = 18.74-19.38; female: 19.47 years, 95% CI = 19.19-19.75). First drink at ages 13-14 was associated with the earliest onset of hazardous drinking (males: 17.43 years; females: 17.98 years). CONCLUSIONS In Australia, alcohol initiation prior to age 15 appears to be associated with an earlier onset of hazardous drinking than initiation after age 15.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Gardner
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Emily Stockings
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Katrina E Champion
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Marius Mather
- Sydney Informatics Hub, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nicola C Newton
- The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Markota M, Coombes BJ, Bieber ED, Kirchoff RW, Bobo WV, Croarkin PE. Relative Age Effect on Problematic Alcohol Use in Adolescents. J Child Adolesc Psychopharmacol 2021; 31:692-696. [PMID: 34314608 PMCID: PMC8721502 DOI: 10.1089/cap.2021.0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Objective: Relative age refers to a difference in age between peers in the same academic year. Although younger age of alcohol use is associated with a higher risk of lifetime problematic alcohol use, the potential effects of relative age are poorly understood. We hypothesized that a younger relative age would be associated with a younger chronological age of testing positive for alcohol in a medical setting. Methods: Problematic alcohol use was operationalized and identified as a positive alcohol test (PAT) in a medical setting. This was a retrospective population study of all 12 to 18-year-old residents (n = 4610) of Olmsted County, Minnesota (USA), who were tested for alcohol in a medical care setting from 1998 through 2016. Cox regression models examined the relationship between relative age and the age at testing positive for alcohol. Results: Relative age was not associated with age at first PAT. Results remained nonsignificant after stratifying by gender, and after adjusting for race, number of nonalcohol-related psychiatric comorbidities, and type of alcohol testing. Conclusions: The results did not support a relative age effect as a risk factor for alcohol use in adolescents in Olmsted County, Minnesota. These results contrast with findings from previous studies on this topic, which suggested older relative age increases risk of alcohol use in adolescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matej Markota
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Brandon J Coombes
- Department of Health Sciences Research, and Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Ewa D Bieber
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - Robert W Kirchoff
- Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
| | - William V Bobo
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA
| | - Paul E Croarkin
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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Baiden P, Jahan N, Onyeaka HK, Thrasher S, Tadeo S, Findley E. Age at first alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents: Findings from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. SSM Popul Health 2021; 15:100820. [PMID: 34141851 PMCID: PMC8187826 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although studies have investigated the association between alcohol use and violent behaviors such as weapon carrying, few studies have examined the association between age at first alcohol use and weapon-carrying among adolescents. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between age at first alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents. METHODS Data for this study came from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. An analytic sample of 13,442 adolescents aged 14-18 years old (51% female) was analyzed using binary logistic regression. The outcome variable investigated in this study was weapon carrying during the past 30 days, and the main explanatory variable investigated was age at first alcohol use. RESULTS Of the 13,442 adolescents, 13.5% carried a weapon during the past 30 days, and 15.4% reported having their first alcoholic drink before age 13. In the multivariable logistic regression, adolescents who reported having alcohol before age 13 had more than double the odds of carrying a weapon when compared to those who never had alcohol before age 13 (AOR = 2.32, p < .001, 95% CI = 1.87-2.89). Other significant factors associated with weapon carrying include male gender, victim of bullying, teen dating violence, sexual violence, suicidal ideation, and history of substance use. Adolescents who self-identified as Black/African American or Hispanic were significantly less likely to carry a weapon when compared to adolescents who self-identified as non-Hispanic White. CONCLUSION The findings of this study underscore the importance of developing age appropriate intervention strategies to curb early initiation of alcohol use and weapon carrying among adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Baiden
- The University of Texas at Arlington, School of Social Work, 211 S. Cooper St., Box 19129, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Nusrat Jahan
- The University of Texas at Arlington, Department of Psychology, 501 Nedderman Dr., Box 19528, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
| | - Henry K. Onyeaka
- Harvard Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital/McLean Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Shawndaya Thrasher
- University of Kentucky, College of Social Work, 619 Patterson Office Tower, Lexington, KY, 40506, USA
| | - Savarra Tadeo
- Florida State University, College of Social Work, 296 Champions Way, University Center, Building C-Suite 2500, Tallahassee, FL, 32306, USA
| | - Erin Findley
- The University of Texas at Arlington, School of Social Work, 211 S. Cooper St., Box 19129, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA
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Ruiz P, Pilatti A, Pautassi RM. Consequences of alcohol use, and its association with psychological distress, sensitivity to emotional contagion and age of onset of alcohol use, in Uruguayan youth with or without college degree. Alcohol 2020; 82:91-101. [PMID: 31520685 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2019.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Psychological distress can promote alcohol consumption during emerging adulthood. Still unknown is, however, how predisposition to emotional contagion alters psychological distress, and how these phenomena are affected by level of education. The present study analyzed the effect of psychological distress, age of first contact with alcohol (early, late), and predisposition to emotional contagion on alcohol-induced negative consequences and on the volume of alcohol consumed during the last year. We also described alcohol-use behaviors as a function of sex, maximum level of education and age of first contact with alcohol, in 1505 youth from Uruguay (18-30 years). A survey measured alcohol use (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test and ad-hoc questionnaire), negative consequences of alcohol use [young adult alcohol consequences questionnaire (YAACQ)], psychological distress (Kessler scale) and proclivity to emotional contagion (Doherty Emotional contagion scale). The patterns of alcohol use were greater in men vs. women and in those featuring an early age of first alcohol use, yet similar in college and non-college graduates. Early drinkers had greater levels of psychological distress than late-onset drinkers. There was a significant bivariate and multiple correlation between psychological distress and the number of negative consequences of alcohol experienced during the last year, which remained significant even after controlling for total volume of alcohol consumed. Significant associations emerged between YAACQ scores and frequency of heavy episodic or binge drinking, and between psychological distress and emotional contagion, but not between emotional contagion and any of the remaining variables. Psychological distress was not significantly correlated with heavy episodic or binge drinking. The study indicates that, during adolescence and youth, psychological distress is associated with experiencing negative consequences of alcohol consumption. The study also suggested that greater levels of psychological distress may underlie the facilitating effect of an early age of drinking onset upon alcohol drinking patterns.
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Islam MM. Exploring the relationship between age at first drink, low-risk drinking knowledge and drinks counting: six rounds of a country-wide survey in Australia. Public Health 2019; 179:160-168. [PMID: 31837628 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2019.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Although a reasonable volume of research has been conducted around health impacts of age at first drink of alcohol on adverse health outcomes, the effects of age at first drink of alcohol on knowledge of low-risk drinking and drinks counting habits were rarely researched. The objective of this study is to examine the associations between age at first full serve of alcohol, knowledge of low-risk drinking and frequency of drinks counting. STUDY DESIGN This is a cross-sectional study. METHODS Data of six rounds of the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, conducted during the period 2001-2016, were analysed. Multivariable log-binomial regression models were used to explore the associations. RESULTS Most people drank the first full serve of alcohol during adolescence, and the age at first full serve of alcohol was consumed increased over time. The levels of knowledge of low-risk drinking and frequency of drinks counting increased with age at first drink of alcohol more steeply during adolescence than in the later period. Participants' age at drinking the first full serve of alcohol was significantly associated with knowledge of low-risk drinking and drinks counting. There was an increasing trend of significant risk ratio between knowledge score and the frequency of drinks counting. CONCLUSION It seems conceivable that those who reported drinking the first full serve of alcohol before 16 years of age were indifferent to drinks counting, and they lacked necessary knowledge of standard drink of alcohol or low-risk drinking. Tailored prevention programs are recommended among adolescents to delay age at first drink of alcohol and to enhance their knowledge base on low-risk drinking.
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Affiliation(s)
- M M Islam
- Department of Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia.
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Vera BDV, Pilatti A, Pautassi RM. ELSA cohort 2014: association of age of first drink and progression from first drink to drunkenness on alcohol outcomes in Argentinean college freshmen. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF DRUG AND ALCOHOL ABUSE 2019; 46:58-67. [PMID: 31112434 DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2019.1608223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Background: College freshman are at-risk for hazardous alcohol drinking and for experiencing alcohol-related negative consequences. This is exacerbated in those featuring an early age of first alcohol use or of first drunkenness. It remains unclear which of these milestones is more strongly associated with alcohol outcomes. Objective: We examined, in Argentinean college drinkers (n = 4088; 43% men; racially and ethnically homogeneous), the association of age at drinking onset and progression to drunkenness (drunkenness naïve [Drunk-Naïve]; No-Delay [same age of first alcohol use and first alcohol intoxication]; one year of delay between age of first alcohol use and first alcohol intoxication; ≥2years of delay) on several alcohol outcomes. Methods: A survey measured substance use, age at drinking and drunkenness onset and alcohol-related consequences. Results: Alcohol consumption per drinking occasion was significantly greater in men than in women. An early drinking onset (alcohol use before age 13) and lifetime drunkenness independently exacerbated alcohol consumption per drinking occasion and during the last year. In men, Early-Onset was associated with a greater number of alcohol-related consequences when the delay between Early-Onset and the first drunkenness episode was 1 or ≥2 years yet did not significantly alter the number of negative consequences in Drunk-naïve or No-delay drinkers. In women, Early-Onset significantly enhanced the number of negative consequences when the delay was two years, but not when the delay was one-year or in Drunk-naïve or No-delay drinkers. Conclusions: The window between the first contact with alcohol and the first episode of drunkenness is a critical period to reduce alcohol-related problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén Del Valle Vera
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas, IIPSI, Unidad Ejecutora CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Angelina Pilatti
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas, IIPSI, Unidad Ejecutora CONICET, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Ricardo Marcos Pautassi
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina.,Instituto de Investigación Médica M. y M. Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET-UNC, Córdoba, Argentina
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Poulton A, Mata A, Pan J, Bruns LR, Sinnott RO, Hester R. Predictors of Adverse Alcohol Use Consequences Among Tertiary Students. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2019; 43:877-887. [PMID: 30779436 DOI: 10.1111/acer.13988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The alcohol consumption patterns of young adults are of concern. Critically, tertiary students consume greater quantities of alcohol, are at increased risk of injury/harm, and have higher rates of alcohol use disorders as compared to their nonuniversity enrolled peers. The Brief Young Adult Alcohol Consequences Questionnaire (BYAACQ) is one of several tools utilized to explore adverse alcohol-related outcomes among tertiary students. Alcohol intake behavior, assessed via retrospective summary measures, has been linked to BYAACQ score. It is unclear, however, how drinking assessed in real time, in conjunction with variables such as age of drinking onset, might predict severity of adverse alcohol consequences as captured by the BYAACQ. METHODS The psychometric properties of the BYAACQ were explored using a large Australian sample of tertiary students (N = 893). A subsample (n = 504) provided alcohol intake information in real time (21 days; event and notification contingent) via a smartphone app (CNLab-A) plus details related to age of drinking onset, drug use, parental alcohol/drug use, and anxiety/depression symptomology. RESULTS Average BYAACQ score was 7.53 (SD = 5.37). Classical and item response theory analyses revealed inconsistencies related to dimensionality, progressive item severity, and male/female differential item functioning. Current drinking-namely, frequency of intake and quantity per drinking occasion-plus age of drinking onset predicted BYAACQ score after controlling for age, other drug use, and depression symptomology. CONCLUSIONS The BYAACQ is a sound tool for use with Australian samples. Information related to current drinking, age of drinking onset, and drug use is useful for predicting severity of alcohol use consequences. These markers might enable tertiary institutions to better target students who could benefit from prevention/intervention programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoinette Poulton
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences , University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Adrienn Mata
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences , University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Jason Pan
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences , University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Loren Richard Bruns
- Computing and Information Systems , University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Richard O Sinnott
- Computing and Information Systems , University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Robert Hester
- Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences , University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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Investigating the association between age at first alcohol use and suicidal ideation among high school students: Evidence from the youth risk behavior surveillance system. J Affect Disord 2019; 242:60-67. [PMID: 30172226 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.08.078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although various studies have investigated and found a significant link between age at first alcohol use and health risk behaviors, few studies have investigated the effect of age at first alcohol use on suicidal ideation among adolescents. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of age at first alcohol use on suicidal ideation. METHODS Data for this study were obtained from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance system. A sample of 10,745 adolescents aged 14-18 years (50.9% males) were analyzed using logistic regression with suicidal ideation as the outcome variable and age at first alcohol use as the main explanatory variable. RESULTS About 17% of adolescents experienced suicidal ideation during the past 12 months and 15.6% started having alcohol before age 13. Adolescents who started having alcohol before age 13 had 1.60 times higher odds of experiencing suicidal ideation and adolescents who started having alcohol by age 13 or over had 1.47 times higher odds of experiencing suicidal ideation. Other significant factors associated with suicidal ideation include experience of forced sex, physical teen dating violence, bullying, and feeling sad or hopeless. Having sufficient sleep lowered the odds of suicidal ideation. LIMITATIONS The use of cross-sectional data limits the extent to which we can make causal claims regarding age at first alcohol use and suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS Younger age at first alcohol use was associated with increased likelihood of suicidal ideation. Public health initiatives that seek to address the co-occurring problems of alcohol use and mental health illness, sexual violence, and victimization among sexual minority youth could help in reducing suicidal ideation.
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Newton-Howes G, Cook S, Martin G, Foulds JA, Boden JM. Comparison of age of first drink and age of first intoxication as predictors of substance use and mental health problems in adulthood. Drug Alcohol Depend 2019; 194:238-243. [PMID: 30466041 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2018.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2018] [Revised: 09/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND International public policy on age of first alcoholic drink (AFD) has emphasised the long-term benefits of delaying AFD. This study aimed to compare AFD to age of first intoxication (AFI) as predictors of substance use disorder and mental disorder outcomes in adulthood. METHODS Data were obtained from a longitudinal birth cohort in Christchurch, New Zealand. Participants were born in 1977. Analysis samples ranged from n = 1025 (age 18) to n = 962 (age 35). Measures of AFD and AFI were generated using parental- and self-report data collected from age 11. Outcomes at age 18-35 were alcohol quantity consumed, DSM-IV alcohol use disorder (AUD) and AUD symptoms, major depression, anxiety disorder, and nicotine, cannabis, and other illicit drug dependence. Covariate factors measured during childhood included family socioeconomic status, family functioning, parental alcohol-related attitudes/behaviours, and individual factors. RESULTS There was a significant unadjusted association between AFD and symptoms of AUD (p < .001) and nicotine dependence (p < .05) but not other outcomes. AFI was significantly (p < .05) associated with all outcomes. After adjustment for covariates, the association between AFD and outcomes was not statistically significant. Conversely, in adjusted models, statistically significant (p < .05) associations remained between AFI and all AUD and substance use disorder outcomes but not alcohol consumption or mental disorder outcomes. CONCLUSIONS AFI was a more robust predictor of adult substance use disorder outcomes than AFD. Public health and policy interventions aimed at prevention of long term harms from alcohol should therefore focus on AFI rather than AFD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giles Newton-Howes
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, 23 Mein Street, Wellington, New Zealand.
| | - Susan Cook
- Health Promotion Agency, 101 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand
| | - Greg Martin
- Health Promotion Agency, 101 The Terrace, Wellington, 6011, New Zealand
| | - James A Foulds
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, 2 Riccarton Ave., PO Box 4345, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand
| | - Joseph M Boden
- Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago, 2 Riccarton Ave., PO Box 4345, Christchurch, 8140, New Zealand
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Grosso AL, Downing MJ, Thomann M, Chiasson MA, Schrimshaw EW, Hirshfield S. Age of Onset of Alcohol Consumption and Subsequent Negative Health Outcomes in Gay and Bisexual Men Who Have Sex With Men. JOURNAL OF HOMOSEXUALITY 2018; 66:1609-1625. [PMID: 30118650 DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2018.1505757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The correlation between current alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors among men who have sex with men (MSM) is well documented, but little is known about age of drinking onset and current risks among this population. Data from a 2008 Internet survey of 8,452 MSM in the United States were used to assess factors associated with age of onset of alcohol use. In a multivariable model, drinking onset before age 15 was significantly associated with a higher number of lifetime male anal sex partners and being behaviorally bisexual in the past 12 months. Men who reported depressive symptoms in the past two weeks or who screened positive for alcohol abuse in the past 60 days were more likely to have early age of drinking onset. Findings suggest the need for targeting younger adolescents for alcohol screening, particularly sexual minority youth, to prevent risk behaviors in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley L Grosso
- a Research and Evaluation Unit, Public Health Solutions , New York , New York , USA
| | - Martin J Downing
- a Research and Evaluation Unit, Public Health Solutions , New York , New York , USA
| | - Matthew Thomann
- b Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University , New York , New York , USA
| | - Mary Ann Chiasson
- a Research and Evaluation Unit, Public Health Solutions , New York , New York , USA
- b Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University , New York , New York , USA
| | - Eric W Schrimshaw
- c Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University , New York , New York , USA
| | - Sabina Hirshfield
- a Research and Evaluation Unit, Public Health Solutions , New York , New York , USA
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Staff J, Maggs JL, Cundiff K, Evans-Polce RJ. Childhood cigarette and alcohol use: Negative links with adjustment. Addict Behav 2016; 62:122-8. [PMID: 27347653 PMCID: PMC4955834 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.06.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Revised: 05/05/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Children who initiate cigarette or alcohol use early-during childhood or early adolescence-experience a heightened risk of nicotine and alcohol dependence in later life as well as school failure, crime, injury, and mortality. Using prospective intergenerational data from the Millennium Cohort Study (MCS), we investigate the association between early substance use initiation (cigarettes or alcohol) and age 11 school engagement, academic achievement, and wellbeing. The ongoing MCS tracks the development of a nationally representative sample of children in the United Kingdom (born 2000-2002) from infancy through adolescence. At age 11, MCS children (n=13,221) indicated whether they had ever used cigarettes or alcohol; at age 7 and 11 they reported on school engagement and wellbeing and completed investigator-assessed tests of academic achievement. Using propensity score methods, children who had initiated cigarette or alcohol use by age 11 were matched to abstaining children with similar risks (or propensities) of early substance use, based on numerous early life risk and protective factors assessed from infancy to age 7. We then examined whether early initiators differed from non-initiators in age 11 adjustment and achievement. Results show that substance use by age 11 was uncommon (3% cigarettes; 13% alcohol). After matching for propensity for early initiation, school engagement and wellbeing were significantly lower among initiators compared to non-initiators. Academic achievement was not consistently related to early initiation. We conclude that initiation of smoking and drinking in childhood is associated with poorer adjustment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Staff
- Pennsylvania State University, Department of Sociology, 917 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Jennifer L Maggs
- Pennsylvania State University, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, 119 Health and Human Development Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Kelsey Cundiff
- Pennsylvania State University, Department of Sociology, 211 Oswald Tower, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Rebecca J Evans-Polce
- Pennsylvania State University, Methodology Center and Prevention Research Center, 217 Health and Human Development Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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Kuntsche E, Rossow I, Engels R, Kuntsche S. The blind men and the elephant-response to commentaries. Addiction 2016; 111:971-2. [PMID: 27157900 DOI: 10.1111/add.13406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel Kuntsche
- Addiction Switzerland, Research Institute, Lausanne, Switzerland. .,Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | | | - Rutger Engels
- Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, the Netherlands.,Trimbos Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Sandra Kuntsche
- Addiction Switzerland, Research Institute, Lausanne, Switzerland
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