Full Citation
Title: Alcohol use at the cusp of adolescence: A prospective national birth cohort study of prevalence and risk factors
Citation Type: Journal Article
Publication Year: 2015
ISBN:
ISSN: 18791972
DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2015.02.010
NSFID:
PMCID:
PMID:
Abstract: Purpose To estimate the prevalence of alcohol use at the age of 10-11 years and document variation by early sociodemographic and concurrent alcohol-specific risk factors. Methods The Millennium Cohort Study is a prospective, nationally representative study of live births in the United Kingdom across 12 months. A random sample of electoral wards was stratified to adequately represent U.K. countries, economically deprived areas, and areas with high concentrations of Asian and Black British families. A total of 12,305 child-mother pairs provided self-report data at 9 months (mother's marital status, age, education, occupational level; child gender, ethnicity, country) and age 10-11 years (adolescent alcohol use and attitudes). Results After adjusting for attrition and sampling design, 13.4% of 10- to 11-year-olds had had an alcoholic drink (more than few sips), 1.2% had felt drunk, and.6% had five or more drinks at a time. Odds of ever drinking were higher among boys (1.47, 95% confidence interval, 1.29-1.68) and lower among early adolescents who were Asian British (vs. white;.09,.05-.17) or Black British (.42,.29-.62). Beyond sociodemographic differences, more positive attitudes about alcohol were associated with greater odds of drinking (1.70, 1.51-1.91), feeling drunk (2.96, 2.07-4.24), and having five or more drinks (4.20, 2.66-6.61). Conclusions Alcohol use in the last year of primary school was identified but not common. Its use varied by sociodemographic groups; early adolescents with more positive alcohol attitudes had especially high risks of early alcohol initiation. Results support calls for increased surveillance and screening for very early drinking.
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Authors: Maggs, Jennifer L.; Staff, Jeremy; Patrick, Megan E.; Wray-Lake, Laura; Schulenberg, John E.
Periodical (Full): Journal of Adolescent Health
Issue: 6
Volume: 56
Pages: 639-645
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