Transitional Stress Influences Problem Alcohol Use and Emotion Regulation in Late Adolescence: A Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract

Rates of alcohol use peak during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood, a developmental phase that encompasses heightened stress and emotion regulation demands. This mixed methods study examines the influence of a critical developmental transition, high school graduation, on the relationship between problem alcohol use and emotion regulation. High school seniors (N = 117) were surveyed within three months of graduation. Quantitative analyses show that transition stress, but not emotion regulation, predicts alcohol-related problems. Qualitative analyses reveal that adolescent high-risk drinkers engage in a variety of strategies to regulate distress. Implications for adolescent substance misuse prevention programs are discussed.

Keywords:

• Adolescence
• alcohol-related problems
• emotion regulation
• stress

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

A research stipend from the first author’s educational institution was used to provide funding for participant gift cards.