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ABSTRACT
Despite the high rate of drinking among adolescents and its negative consequences, studies regarding causality of drinking behaviors have been under-examined. Regarding causal factors of underage drinking, Gottfredson and Hirschi’s general theory of crime provided a useful theoretical frame. Using the data set of “Monitoring the Future: A Continuing Study of American Youth,” this study conducted multiple regression analyses with the selected sample data set of 4,626. The results indicated that adolescents with a lower self-control were more likely to drink than those with a high self-control. Furthermore, opportunity (i.e., accessibility of alcohol and drinking peers) was a strong predictor of underage drinking. Particularly, this study found a significant effect of the interaction between low self-control and opportunity on drinking among American youth. Thus, this study strongly supports the general theory of crime as well as provides an approach to reduce underage drinking in America.
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Notes on contributors
Hyunin Baek
Hyunin Baek is currently a visiting assistant professor at the Department of Criminal Justice at New Mexico State University. He earned his Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from the University of Louisville. His research interests include internet deviance, juvenile and adult deviance, police officer’s organizational commitment and competency, confidence in the police, fear of crime, bullying victimization and perpetration, and testing criminological theories. His most recent publications appear or are forthcoming in Journal of School Violence, Deviant Behavior, Asian Journal of Criminology, Race and Justice, and International Journal of Police Science & Management.
Selye Lee
Selye Lee is an assistant professor at the Department of Criminal Justice at West Liberty University. She holds a PhD in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP). Her research interests lie in policing and the community, the developmental and life-course features of criminal behavior, juvenile justice and delinquency, and comparative justice.