Peer Victimization and Alcohol Involvement among Adolescents Self-Selecting into a School-Based Alcohol Intervention

Abstract

To increase understanding of factors that prompt adolescents to seek alcohol-related services, this research examined the characteristics of youths who self-selected into a secondary alcohol intervention. Using a cross-sectional study of high school students (N = 6,748), the authors explored participants' alcohol involvement, alcohol-related problems, and bullying/peer victimization. Compared to students that did not self-select, intervention students were more likely to have more hazardous drinking experience, to drink alone, experience alcohol-related problems, report more bullying/peer victimization, be male, and be in the tenth grade. Findings provide support that this developmentally tailored approach to early intervention successfully attracted youths with an array of risk factors.

KEYWORDS:

• adolescent
• alcohol
• bullying
• intervention
• peer victimization

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by Grant 5R01AA12171-09 from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to S. A. Brown. We also wish to thank the schools and students who participated in this research.

Notes

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