Interactive effects within the prototype willingness model: Predicting the drinking behavior of indigenous early adolescents.

Abstract

Drawing on the Prototype/Willingness Model of Adolescent Risk Behavior, we used longitudinal data collected from North American Indigenous early adolescents (ages 10-12 years) to examine the interactive effects of favorable drinker prototypes, perceived drinking norms, and past-year drinking behavior on subsequent drinking behavior (i.e., drinking behavior 1 year later and growth in drinking behavior from 1-5 years later). We found that the positive association between favorable drinker prototypes and drinking 1 year later was strongest for adolescents who were high in past-year drinking and perceived low drinking norms. The interaction pattern for growth in drinking was more complex and suggested an important pattern; specifically, favorable drinker prototypes were positively associated with drinking 5 years later, but only for adolescents who reported no past-year drinking and perceived low drinking norms. The theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.