Factors Predicting Alcohol Consumption in Adolescents Attending a Faith-Based School System in Australia: A Multigroup Structural Equation Analysis

Abstract

Structural equation modeling was used to explore the direct and indirect association of childhood experiences, attitudes, subjective norms, and intentions on the alcohol consumption of adolescents attending faith-based Seventh-day Adventist schools in Australia. Data were collected on 1,266 adolescents and the structural model developed explained 48% of the variance for alcohol consumption. Intentions had the highest degree of association with Alcohol Consumption Status (ACS) (β = 0.52). Attitudes were more strongly associated to ACS (β_total = 0.36) than subjective norms (β_total = 0.17). Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) were associated with every variable in the model and had a combined direct and indirect association with ACS of β_total = 0.14. Multigroup analysis found significant pathway differences in the model for gender and age with regards to the association of intentions, attitudes, ACEs, and Childhood Family Dynamics with alcohol consumption status. The study fills a gap in the alcohol literature by presenting a model describing the complex network of factors that predict alcohol consumption in a low-ACS population. The outcomes of the study highlight the importance of early intervention for children and their families to delay or minimize alcohol consumption in adolescents.

Keywords:

• adolescent alcohol consumption
• adverse childhood experiences
• attitudes toward alcohol
• family dynamics
• underage drinking

Additional information

Funding

T.L.B and K.R.P received funding from the Seventh-day Adventist Church for the administration and data collection of survey. The funder had no involvement in study design; data analysis and interpretation of data; the writing of the paper; or the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. No honoraria were involved in study authorship. All other authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.