Predicting an Alcohol Use Disorder in Urban American Indian Youths

Abstract

This study examines predictors of alcohol use disorders (AUDs) among an urban American Indian cohort who were followed from approximately age 11 to age 20. Approximately 27% of the sample had a lifetime diagnosis of alcohol abuse or dependence. The results indicated that externalizing, but not internalizing, behaviors, family conflict, and school liking served as significant predictors of an AUD. Neither having an alcoholic mother nor an alcoholic father was found to be significantly predictive of an alcohol use disorder at ages 19 and 20. Finally, early alcohol initiation was a substantial predictor of an AUD and acted as a partial mediator.

KEYWORDS:

• alcohol abuse
• alcohol dependence
• alcohol use disorder
• American Indian
• urban American Indian

Notes

*p < .05. Measures whether variable mean for respondents with an AUD is different from mean for respondents without an AUD.

*p < .05. **p < .10.