Abstract
Adolescent alcohol use is related to disinhibition traits and family environments. However, research is scarce on whether these factors predict alcohol use trajectories distally, from early adolescence into early adulthood. We examined whether sensation seeking and parenting environments in early adolescence predicted adolescents’ alcohol use trajectories proximally (middle-adolescence) and distally (early adulthood). Using four waves of data from 345 adolescents (51.3% female; 80% white) and their primary caregivers, we estimated adolescents’ alcohol use trajectories and examined variability in these by sensation seeking and parental control. The findings revealed distal, positive associations between sensation seeking and alcohol use; and negative, proximal associations between parental control and alcohol use. Also proximally, there was a significant interaction between sensation seeking and parental control. We discuss implications for theory and practice.
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Authors’ Contributions
AR conceived of the study, performed the statistical analyses and interpretation of results, and led the writing of the manuscript. KE assisted in the conceptualization, interpretation of results, and the writing of the manuscript. LC oversaw implementation and administration of the larger study from which the data are drawn and assisted in the conceptualization, interpretation of results, and writing of the manuscript. AS reviewed drafts and assisted in the writing of the manuscript. LB reviewed drafts and assisted in the writing of the manuscript.
Funding
This research was supported by grants from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (AA016213, AA022097) awarded to Dr. Laurie Chassin.
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All procedures involving human participants were performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethnical standards.
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All adolescents in the study assented to participation; consent was obtained from each participants’ primary caregiver.
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Rogers, A.A., Elam, K.K., Chassin, L. et al. Proximal and Distal Effects of Sensation Seeking and Parenting Environments on Alcohol Use Trajectories from Early Adolescence to Early Adulthood. J Youth Adolescence 47, 2206–2219 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0874-x
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-018-0874-x