Exploring the associations between social class, binge drinking, and other risk behaviors among brazilian young people

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter explores the associations between social class, binge drinking, and other risk behaviors among Brazilian young people. In developing countries such as Brazil, there is still very little information about alcohol use among young people, and its causes and consequences. The purpose of this chapter is to contribute to the fuller understanding of alcohol use among young people in Recife, Northeast Brazil. This study has explored binge drinking in a sample of young people (10–19 years) in Recife, Brazil. Data collection focused on a range of social factors potentially associated with this risky pattern of alcohol use such as social class, age, gender, use of other drugs, sexual relationships and involvement in criminal activities. Within this sample (n=336), 23% had had at least one episode of binge drinking, 23% had smoked cigarettes and 26% had tried other drugs (illegal or legal). In addition, 24% had had sexual relationships, of which 24% had had unprotectes sex, and 7% had been involved in criminal activities. Social class emerged as significantly related to binge drinking, with greater likelihood of this event among poor class older adolescents, after adjusting for gender, age and social variables. One could argue that reverse causality could explain the association between binge drinking and poor class. However, reverse causality is unlikely since social mobility because of personal behaviour could not be considered with subjects at such a young age.