Longitudinal Effects of Family Factors on Alcohol Use Among African American and White Non-Hispanic Males During Middle School

ABSTRACT

This study examined the longitudinal effects of five family factors (familism, parent derogation, parent–child communication, family alcohol problems, and family drug problems) on intensity of alcohol use among a sample of 451 African American and White non-Hispanic males from early to mid-adolescence (sixth through eighth grades). Results indicated that all of the family variables except family drug problems were statistically significant predictors of the level of alcohol use in mid-adolescence. Familism had a moderate influence on the dependent variable at both data points, while parent derogation, parent/child communication, and family alcohol problems were weaker predictors. Intensity of alcohol use in sixth grade, however, had the most influence on later levels of use.

KEYWORDS:

• Adolescent substance abuse
• alcohol
• communication
• early alcohol use
• familism
• family factors
• parent derogation

Notes

∗p < .05. ∗∗p < .01. ∗∗∗p < .001.

∗p < .05. ∗∗p < .01. ∗∗∗p < .001.

∗p < .05. ∗∗p < .01. ∗∗∗p < .001.

∗p < .05. ∗∗p < .01. ∗∗∗p < .001.