Family and school social capitals in late childhood predict youthful drinking behaviors and problems

Abstract

BackgroundThe present study aims to investigate the connection linking late childhood’s family- and school- social capitals with subsequent alcohol drinking and problems. MethodsData were obtained from the Alcohol-Related Experiences among Children survey in Taiwan. A total of 928 6th graders (age 11–12) were recruited from 17 elementary schools in an urban region in 2006 (response rate = 61.0%wt); follow-ups were conducted at 8th grade (n = 783, follow-up rate = 82.6%wt) and young adulthood (age 18–19; n = 645, follow-up rate = 68.0%wt). Information concerning family social capital, alcohol drinking, and teacher–student relationship was collected by self-administered questionnaires; school social capitals were assessed via questionnaires and official statistics. Multilevel logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate relationship estimates. ResultsAt 8th grade, nearly one in ten reported having drunk alcohol on four or more occasions (i.e., occasional drinking) in the past year; and 14% reported past-month binge drinking in young adulthood. Effects of family social capital differed by developmental stage; parental involvement appeared prominent in reducing occasional drinking only in adolescence (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 0.54). School social capital (e.g., teacher–student ratio) was salient in shaping alcohol involvement in adolescence (occasional drinking: aOR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.63–0.98) and young adulthood (binge drinking: aOR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.67–0.86). ConclusionsOur findings warrant future research on social capitals at family- and school- levels in late childhood, and inform preventive strategies targeting alcohol drinking and problems in young people.