Predictive factors of alcohol abuse and dependence in Mexican adolescents

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn order to identify some of the factors associated with alcohol abuse and dependence in male and female adolescents, a cross-sectional survey based on correlation with an ex post facto design was applied to a nonprobability sample of 731 students in the third year of high school, comprising 50.2% of men and 48.0% of women, in cities located in the center and south of Mexico. Alcohol consumption in the past year and the month prior to the survey was significantly higher in girls. The majority were classified as nondrinkers or occasional drinkers (60.5% of males and 66.7% of females), approximately 19% as alcohol abusers, while a slightly smaller percentage of females suffered from alcohol dependence in comparison with males. Expectations of well-being related to alcohol consumption were higher and alcohol consumption was more problematic among males. Both men and women with alcohol dependence experienced greater difficulty controlling their drinking and attended more gatherings with other alcohol-consuming friends and young people. Moreover, alcohol approval is higher among dependents than nondrinkers or occasional drinkers, with men constituting a larger proportion of the latter.