Perspectives on adolescent alcohol use and consideration of future consequences: results from a qualitative study

ABSTRACT

Consideration of future consequences (CFC) is described as the attention that individuals pay to the potential outcomes of their behaviour, and how their behaviour is affected as a result of attention to these outcomes. Greater CFC has been associated with less alcohol use, thus indicating its potential utility in health-promotion initiatives. A focus group methodology was employed with 13–14 year olds (N = 129) in 16 high schools in Northern Ireland and Scotland to attain their thoughts on how adolescents in general consider the future consequences of alcohol consumption; and to provide some clarity on the nature of CFC and whether it is singular or dichotomous in nature (i.e. do individuals distinguish between immediate and long-term consequences and are they influenced by these in different ways). The participants indicated that the majority of adolescents do not consider the consequences of alcohol consumption at all; while to a lesser extent, some adolescents consider the consequences but ignore them. If adolescents do refrain from alcohol, immediate consequences are more influential in their decision-making than long-term consequences. These findings should help to inform and guide the development and delivery of health-promotion initiatives, and provide some clarity about the nature of CFC and the manner in which the construct should be examined or utilised during future research.

KEYWORDS:

• Consideration of future consequences
• alcohol use
• adolescent

Acknowledgements

The views and opinions expressed therein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Institute for Health Research, the National Health Service or the Department of Health. The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Notes on contributors

Séamus A. Harvey is a Research Assistant at Liverpool, John Moores University.

Michael T. McKay is STAMPP Trial Manager at Liverpool John Moores University.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute for Health Research [grant number 10/3002/09].