Full for Første Gang: En Longitudinell Studie

Abstract

In a longitudinal study with a prospective of five waves of data, the predictors and consequences of alcohol and intoxication debut were investigated. The sample consisted of 465 Norwegian adolescents, who were followed up over six years. Median age of alcohol debut was 15 years, and the mean age 14.8 years. By using structural equation modelling, parental and peer influences on alcohol and intoxication debut were estimated. While controlling for parental and peer influences, the consequences of age of debut were studied in terms of subsequent alcohol consumption and the development of alcohol problems. The findings revealed that there was an independent effect of age of alcohol debut both as regards further alcohol consumption and development of alcohol problems. But no such effect was reported for the age of first intoxication. Five percent of the sample had not had their alcohol debut by the end of their teens. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to predict abstainer status. The findings indicated that the abstainers were heterogeneous. Low parental substance use, high religious involvement and school adaptation increased the probability of abstaining. However, weak friendship networks also had the same effects.