Gender differences in rural adolescent drinking patterns

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine differences in rural adolescent male and female drinking patterns, problem drinking behavior, and the factors associated with problem drinking behavior. Methods: An anonymous written survey was administered to 2,297 adolescents, aged 12 to 18 years, in a rural Mississippi River Delta county. Potential risk factors for problem drinking behavior examined included demographic, behavioral, peer, and parental characteristics. Drinking patterns were examined separately for male and female adolescent drinkers. Results: Individual factors associated with problem drinking behavior for these rural adolescents were consistent with previous research. However, these factors were gender specific in prevalence. Males were more likely than females to report all of the behavioral and peer risk factors associated with problem drinking, except depressive symptoms, which were more frequently reported by females than males. The interactions of gender with race and gender with peer approval of drinking were significantly associated with problem drinking. The ratio of male to female problem drinkers among African-American adolescents was twice as high as the ratio among Caucasian adolescents. Females were much more strongly influenced by peer disapproval of drinking than were males. Conclusions: Prevention and intervention programs may be more effective for rural females if they target depression and focus on support systems, whereas intensive programs for adolescents with multiple high risk behaviors may be more effective for rural males.