Search resultsThe stability of alcohol consumption between age 16 and 26: Evidence from a National Birth Cohort Study
Title
The stability of alcohol consumption between age 16 and 26: Evidence from a National Birth Cohort Study
Publication type
Journal Article
Year of Publication
2015
Authors
Journal
Journal of Adolescence
Volume
44
Pagination
57 - 69
Date published
2015
ISBN
01401971 (ISSN)
Keywords
Adolescent, adolescent smoking, Adolescents, Adult, Adult outcomes, alcohol, alcohol consumption, article, cohort analysis, delinquency, drinking behavior, Female, health promotion, human, major clinical study, male, Moderate drinking, parental behavior, race difference, sex difference, social status, Teenagers
Abstract
This study examined the association between moderate drinking at age 16 (adolescence) and alcohol consumption at age 26 (young adulthood), whilst controlling for possible confounding effects at the individual and family level (assessed at birth and age 10). Using the British Cohort Study (BCS70), 6515 respondents provided data on their adolescent alcohol consumption and other behaviours. Of these, 4392 also completed the survey at age 26. Consumption patterns established in adolescence persisted, to a large degree, into early adulthood. Those adolescents who drank moderately in adolescence drank significantly less in adulthood than those adolescents who drank to heavy or hazardous levels. Implications for health promotion strategies and guidance are discussed.