Explaining Adolescent Problem Drinking

Abstract

This chapter examines the application of Problem Behavior Theory as an account of variation in adolescent problem drinking among high school and college youth followed longitudinally into young adulthood. The theory provided a highly significant and substantial account of problem drinking variation, both cross-sectionally and over time, for both males and females in both the high school and college samples. Variables in all three theoretical systems—Personality, Perceived Environment, and Behavior—were significant predictors of both cross-section variation and developmental change in problem drinker status. The cross-sectional findings also illuminate the marked co-variation of problem drinking with various other adolescent problem behaviors, and the longitudinal findings reveal increasing psychosocial conventionality with development from adolescence into young adulthood. Because of that developmental change, problem drinking in adolescence does not necessarily implicate problem drinking in young adulthood.