Age and gender differences in the predictors of adolescent drinking

For the study reported in this article, 1,942 junior and senior high school students from the Canadian province of Alberta completed a self-report survey instrument containing measures of alcohol consumption and selected intrapersonal, peer pressure, and family functioning variables. Results revealed significant age and gender differences in the best predictors of alcohol consumption across the sample. Generally speaking, the dominant predictor of young adolescent boys' drinking was whether their friends drink, whereas girls' drinking was more strongly related to levels of intrapersonal disorder. Peer pressure was a more important predictor of drinking among older adolescent girls. But far boys peer pressure remained highly significant throughout adolescence. Results of the study highlight the need to consider age and gender differences when designing alcohol prevention programs for adolescents and the need to adhere to social work's duel focus on person and environment.