Alcohol Use and Antisocial Behavior in Late Adolescence: Characteristics of a Sample Attending a GED Program

Abstract

This study examined peer deviance, disinhibition, and ADHD symptoms as differential predictors of alcohol use, alcohol use disorder symptoms, and antisocial behavior. It was hypothesized that peer deviance would most strongly predict alcohol use while disinhibition and ADHD would predict alcohol use disorder symptoms and antisocial behavior. Participants were 104 (60% male) GED students between 16 and 21 years old who completed questionnaires and clinical interviews. Hierarchical regression models confirmed that peer deviance was the primary predictor of alcohol use, whereas disinhibition and ADHD were stronger predictors of alcohol use disorder symptoms and antisocial behavior. Results suggest that association with deviant peers increased the likelihood that these students would consume alcohol but, beyond that, individual factors such as disinhibition and ADHD contributed to symptoms of alcohol use disorder and antisocial behavior. Implications for treatment are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• ADHD
• adolescence
• alcohol use
• antisocial behavior
• peer influence

Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by a St. John's University seed grant. Special thanks to William Chaplin, PhD, and Alice Powers, PhD, for their assistance in preparing this paper for publication. This paper is largely based on a dissertation written by the first author (MRO).

Notes

Note. Intercorrelations are presented below the diagonal; covariances are presented above the diagonal.

*p < .05; **p < .01.

^a See methods sections for raw scores.

*p < .01; **p < .001.

*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001.

*p < .05; **p < .01; ***p < .001.