A Gender-Specific Analysis of Adolescent Dietary Caffeine, Alcohol Consumption, Anger, and Violent Behavior

Abstract

Self-reported dietary caffeine and alcohol consumption were examined in relation to anger and violent behavior in Icelandic tenth-graders. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to investigate direct and indirect effects of measured and latent variables in the population sample of 3,670, controlling for parental financial standing, family structure, ADHD, and peer delinquency. Gender differences were observed that have not been reported previously, especially in relation to anger as a possible mediator of violent behavior against a background of caffeine and alcohol consumption. Study findings suggest the need to take account of caffeine consumption in relation to adolescent anger and violence.

Keywords :

• adolescence
• adolescents
• caffeine
• alcohol
• anger
• violence
• gender differences

THE AUTHORS

Jack E. James, Ph.D., initially trained as a clinical psychologist, after which his interests broadened to include health psychology. He was Foundation Professor of Behavioral Health Sciences at La Trobe University, Melbourne; Founding National Chair of the Australian College of Health Psychologists; and is founding Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Caffeine Research. On relocating to Europe, he was Professor and Head of Psychology at the National University of Ireland, Galway, and is currently Professor of Psychology at Reykjavík University. He has been principal investigator and recipient of health-related research grants from major granting bodies in Australia, Ireland, Iceland, and the European Union. His research includes behavioral cardiology, with particular emphasis on the physiological correlates of psychosocial stress; behavioral pharmacology; and behavioral epidemiology.

Alfgeir L. Kristjansson, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Public Health at West Virginia University (WVU) School of Public Health. His research interests include adolescent substance use prevention and community health promotion with particular emphasis on primary prevention approaches and contextual understanding of the family, school, and peer environment. He teaches Social and Behavioral Theory and Survey Research Methods in the WVU MPH program and supervises Ph.D. students. Dr. Kristjansson also serves as the Principal Data Coordinator for the Icelandic Center for Social Research and Analysis at Reykjavik University in Iceland where he oversees a large domestic and pan-European database of youth survey data on delinquency, substance use, and associated risk and protective factors.

Inga Dora Sigfusdottir, Ph.D., is a Professor at Reykjavik University, Iceland, and a Research Professor in the Department of Health and Behavior Studies at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her work focuses on the study of risk and protective factors in the prevention of adolescent delinquency and health related behavior. She has published over 60 articles in international journals. In conjunction with her research activities, she has provided academic leadership as the founder and scientific director of the Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis (ICSRA). At ICSRA she and her colleagues built a nationwide, annually updated database on various aspects of health and behavior among school-age children and adolescents. She has authored numerous reports and provided leadership in the area of Icelandic social research and social policy.

GLOSSARY

• Anger: A strong feeling of displeasure and belligerence.

• Attentional Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A psychiatric diagnosis referring to significant problems with attention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity that are deemed inappropriate for a person's age.

• Confirmatory factor analysis: A special form of factor analysis used to test whether measures of a construct are consistent with a hypothesized model based on theory and/or previous empirical research.

• Peer delinquency: A set of negatively valenced social behavior or illicit behavior by peers such as stealing or vandalism.

• Structural Equation Modeling: A statistical technique that combines factor analysis and regression analysis using both latent and observed variables.

• Violence: Behavior that involves rough or injurious physical force such as punching, kicking, and grabbing.