Alcohol Use and Social Adjustment in Adolescence: A Longitudinal, Multilevel Study

Abstract

The study examined to what extent alcohol use among Dutch adolescents (1,421 adolescents, aged 12–16) was related to sociability and whether the social context affects this association. Data were based on self-reports and peer reports during 2005 and 2006. The results indicated that in contrast to previous assumptions, alcohol use did not predict changes in subsequent sociability. The findings also did not support the idea of curvilinear effects of alcohol use. In addition, the proportion of peers in class who drank had no effect on this association. Limitations and directions for future research are given.

RÉSUMÉ

Consommation d'alcool et d'ajustement social à l'adolescence: une etude longitudinale multi-niveaux”

L’étude examinée dans quelle mesure l'utilisation d'alcool parmi les adolescents hollandais (1,421 adolescents, âgés 12-16) a été liée à la sociabilité et si le contexte social affecte cette association. Des données ont été basées sur des individu-rapports et des rapports de pair. Les résultats ont indiqué que contrairement aux prétentions précédentes, l'utilisation d'alcool n'a pas prévu des changements de sociabilité suivante. Les résultats également n'ont pas soutenu l'idée des effets curvilignes d'utilisation d'alcool. En outre, la proportion de pairs dans la classe qui a bu n'a exercé aucun effet sur cette association. Des limitations et les directions pour la future recherche sont données.

Mots clés la consommation d'alcool, la sociabilitè, adolescents, multi-niveaux, longitudinal

RESUMEN

Consumo de alcohol y el ajuste social en la adolescencia: Un estudio longitudinal, de varios niveles

El estudio examinado en qué medida el uso del alcohol entre los adolescentes holandeses (1,421 adolescentes, envejecidos 12-16) fue relacionado con la sociabilidad y si el contexto social afecta a esta asociación. Los datos fueron basados en uno mismo-informes e informes del par. Los resultados indicaron que en contraste con asunciones anteriores, el uso del alcohol no predijo cambios en sociabilidad subsecuente. Los resultados también no apoyaron la idea de efectos curvilíneos del uso del alcohol. Además, la proporción de pares en la clase que bebió no tenía ningún efecto sobre esta asociación. Las limitaciones y las direcciones para la investigación futura se dan.

Palabras clave consumo de alcohol, la sociabilidad, adolescentes, varios niveles, longitudinal

Keywords :

• alcohol use
• sociability
• adolescents
• multilevel
• longitudinal

THE AUTHORS

Ron H.J. Scholte, PhD, is currently associated with the Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands. His main research interests are adolescents’ substance use and internalizing problems (depression and loneliness). He studies both environmental influences (i.e., parents, peers, media effects) and individual factors (such as personality, genetic make-up), applying experiments, diary studies, and longitudinal survey studies.

Rutger C.M.E. Engels, PhD, is Head of the research program Developmental Psychopathology (Radboud University Nijmegen). His program focuses on substance use, applying a wide variety of research methods including experiments, longitudinal surveys, and genetic informative designs to test gene–environment interactions. He is also involved in a Randomized Control Trials examining the effectiveness of prevention and intervention programs.

Mirande Sentse, PhD, is at the University of Groningen and studies peer relations (peer rejection, popularity), and parents (parent–child relations, parenting practices) and adolescent problem behaviors. Recently, she has started to work on examining anti-bullying programs.

Geertjan Overbeek, PhD, is at the Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands. The main focus of his work has been on romantic relationships during adolescence. He has also started up research on the gene–environment interplay in relation to adolescent problem behavior, based on the differential susceptibility assumption.