Adolescent Alcohol Use and Prevention Strategies

S
e
n
s
a
t
i
o
n
 
s
e
e
k
i
n
g
 
a
n
d
 
a
d
o
l
e
s
c
e
n
t
a
l
c
o
h
o
l
 
u
s
e
:
e
x
p
l
o
r
i
n
g
 
t
h
e
 
m
e
d
i
a
t
i
n
g
 
r
o
l
e
 
o
f
u
n
s
t
r
u
c
t
u
r
e
d
 
s
o
c
i
a
l
i
z
i
n
g
 
w
i
t
h
 
p
e
e
r
s
Sharon Sznitman & Batya Engel-Yeger
Conflict of interest
None
This work was supported by a research grant from the Israeli Anti-
Drug Authority (grant number: 45771)
 
 
Heavy and frequent use of alcohol among
adolescents – why should we care?
 
Poor academic achievement
Injuries and violence
Sexual risk behavior
Later alcoholism
Early mortality
 
Prevention
 
After school and community based prevention programs may be a
way forward, but…
Few after-school programs have been developed
Of those that have been developed preventive effects are typically small and
short lived
 
Before moving forward with novel prevention programs there is a
need for a comprehensive understanding of 
modifiable factors 
that
influence adolescent alcohol use
Risk factors: personality vulnerability
 
Sensation seeking
:
A preference for novel and intense activities
Particularly sensitive to positive reinforcement and the rewarding outcomes
of alcohol use
 
Sensation seeking is thereby theorized as a 
direct causal risk factor 
for the use
of alcohol
Sensation
seeking
Alcohol use
Risk factors: unstructured social activities
Hanging out, going to a party, spending time at friend’s house
No authoritative figures who monitors behaviors (parent, teacher, coach)
Over-represented by deviant and older adolescents
Research has shown that participation in unstructured activities is a risk factor
for adolescent alcohol use and abuse 
(Eccles et al., 2003; Trainor et al., 2010; Wilson et al., 2010)
In alcohol research one often overlooked area is that sensation seekers may not
only be prone to alcohol use
They may also be particularly likely to be involved in unstructured activities
because of their impulsiveness and need for excitement
makes spontaneous, self-initiated and unsupervised activities especially appealing
Risk factors:
unstructured social activities & sensation seeking
Unstructured
socializing
Sensation
seeking
Alcohol use
Hypothesis:
Rather than functioning as a direct causal effect, sensation seeking increases
risk of alcohol use 
through
 its effect on participation in unstructured social
activities
Research question
Does participation in unstructured activities mediate the association
between sensation seeking and adolescent alcohol use?
Methods
Cross sectional survey distributed during school hours in 1 Israeli
state-secular Jewish high school (10
th
 to 12
th
 grade) in the center
region of Israel
All classrooms were sampled
N= 360
51.5% boys
Age 15 -18 (mean=16.02±.85)
Measures:
 
Sensation seeking: how much do you agree with the following statements
about yourself: “I would like to skydive”, “I am interested in experience for
its own sake even if it is illegal”, “I like doing things that frighten me a
little”. Scale: 1= strongly disagree - 4=strongly agree (reliability .70)
Unstructured socializing with peers
: how often do you participate in any of
the following unstructured activities: partying, hanging out and going to
friends’ home. Scale: 1=once in four months -7=once a day or more
(reliability .70)
Alcohol use
: the frequency of alcohol consumption during the last month (0
= never – 7 = 30 times or more) and lifetime frequency of being drunk (0 =
never, 5 = 10 time or more). Reliability .60.
Covariates: 
gender and age
Statistical analyses
Structural Equation Model (SEM) in AMOS SPSS tested
The direct path from sensation seeking to alcohol use
The indirect path from sensation seeking to alcohol use through unstructured socializing with
peers
Mediated effects were estimated using the product of coefficients method
(MacKinnon, 2008) and was tested by bootstrapping the sampling distribution of
the indirect effect and obtaining its confidence interval
Model fit measures:
Comparative Fit Index (CFI) >0.95
Tucker–Lewis Index (TLI) >0.90
Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) <0.06
Unstructured
socializing
Sensation
seeking
Alcohol use
Results
Standardized coefficients for the final mediation model
a path = 0.21**
b path = 0.16**
c path = 0.12*
The total effect was 0.15 [0.12 + (0.21*0.16) = 0.15]
23% 
of this total effect was explained by the indirect (mediated) effect
*p < .05, ** p < .01, * ** p < .001. Fit indices: 
χ2 (30) =60.31, 
p=.001; CFI=.95; TLI=.93, RMSEA=.053.
Discussion and conclusion
Part of the association between sensation seeking and adolescent alcohol use is
mediated by the propensity that sensation seekers have for being involved in
unstructured socialization with peers
How?
Extracurricular activities are adolescents’ main foci of activity
It may drive the development of friendships
the more extracurricular activities adolescents share and the more repeated encounters the
activities encourage, the more likelihood there is for peer group formation
One potential underlying mechanism of the mediated effect is through social networks,
e,g. social networks of high sensation seekers are formed through high level of
participation in unstructured social activities
Involvement in these social networks puts adolescents at particular high risk of alcohol
use
Limitations
Convenience sample
Cross-sectional – causal relations need to be verified
The current study was designed to be exploratory and provide the
first initial knowledge which may inform future longitudinal and
experimental studies
Implication for prevention
Sensation seeking is biologically determined – we cant change it
through prevention programs
However, one could try to gear sensation seeking adolescents
towards structured activity patterns
Provide experience with risky activities (e.g. high speed sports like water
skiing) under structured conditions and authoritative supervision
may satisfy need for sensation-seeking while also protecting them from their own risky
behavior (Romer et al., 2010)
To encourage engagement with structured activities that also stimulate the
dopamine system, such as team sports
Thank You!
Slide Note
Embed
Share

Exploring the relationship between sensation seeking, unstructured socializing, and adolescent alcohol use, this study reveals the underlying risk factors and emphasizes the importance of preventive measures to mitigate the negative consequences associated with heavy and frequent alcohol consumption among adolescents. It highlights the need for comprehensive prevention programs tailored to address modifiable factors influencing alcohol use in youth.

  • Adolescent Alcohol Use
  • Prevention Strategies
  • Sensation Seeking
  • Risk Factors
  • Unstructured Socializing

Uploaded on Sep 21, 2024 | 1 Views


Download Presentation

Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.

The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.

You are allowed to download the files provided on this website for personal or commercial use, subject to the condition that they are used lawfully. All files are the property of their respective owners.

The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author.

E N D

Presentation Transcript


  1. Sensation seeking and adolescent Sensation seeking and adolescent alcohol use: alcohol use: exploring exploring the mediating role of the mediating role of unstructured socializing with peers unstructured socializing with peers Sharon Sznitman & Batya Engel-Yeger

  2. Conflict of interest None This work was supported by a research grant from the Israeli Anti- Drug Authority (grant number: 45771)

  3. Heavy and frequent use of alcohol among adolescents why should we care? Poor academic achievement Injuries and violence Sexual risk behavior Later alcoholism Early mortality

  4. Prevention After school and community based prevention programs may be a way forward, but Few after-school programs have been developed Of those that have been developed preventive effects are typically small and short lived Before moving forward with novel prevention programs there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of modifiable factors that influence adolescent alcohol use

  5. Risk factors: personality vulnerability Sensation seeking: A preference for novel and intense activities Particularly sensitive to positive reinforcement and the rewarding outcomes of alcohol use Sensation seeking is thereby theorized as a direct causal risk factor for the use of alcohol Sensation seeking Alcohol use

  6. Risk factors: unstructured social activities Hanging out, going to a party, spending time at friend s house No authoritative figures who monitors behaviors (parent, teacher, coach) Over-represented by deviant and older adolescents Research has shown that participation in unstructured activities is a risk factor for adolescent alcohol use and abuse (Eccles et al., 2003; Trainor et al., 2010; Wilson et al., 2010)

  7. Risk factors: unstructured social activities & sensation seeking In alcohol research one often overlooked area is that sensation seekers may not only be prone to alcohol use They may also be particularly likely to be involved in unstructured activities because of their impulsiveness and need for excitement makes spontaneous, self-initiated and unsupervised activities especially appealing

  8. Hypothesis: Rather than functioning as a direct causal effect, sensation seeking increases risk of alcohol use through its effect on participation in unstructured social activities Unstructured socializing Sensation seeking Alcohol use

  9. Research question Does participation in unstructured activities mediate the association between sensation seeking and adolescent alcohol use?

  10. Methods Cross sectional survey distributed during school hours in 1 Israeli state-secular Jewish high school (10th to 12th grade) in the center region of Israel All classrooms were sampled N= 360 51.5% boys Age 15 -18 (mean=16.02 .85)

  11. Measures: Sensation seeking: how much do you agree with the following statements about yourself: I would like to skydive , I am interested in experience for its own sake even if it is illegal , I like doing things that frighten me a little . Scale: 1= strongly disagree - 4=strongly agree (reliability .70) Unstructured socializing with peers: how often do you participate in any of the following unstructured activities: partying, hanging out and going to friends home. Scale: 1=once in four months -7=once a day or more (reliability .70) Alcohol use: the frequency of alcohol consumption during the last month (0 = never 7 = 30 times or more) and lifetime frequency of being drunk (0 = never, 5 = 10 time or more). Reliability .60. Covariates: gender and age

  12. Statistical analyses Structural Equation Model (SEM) in AMOS SPSS tested The direct path from sensation seeking to alcohol use The indirect path from sensation seeking to alcohol use through unstructured socializing with peers Mediated effects were estimated using the product of coefficients method (MacKinnon, 2008) and was tested by bootstrapping the sampling distribution of the indirect effect and obtaining its confidence interval Model fit measures: Comparative Fit Index (CFI) >0.95 Tucker Lewis Index (TLI) >0.90 Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) <0.06

  13. Results Standardized coefficients for the final mediation model Unstructured socializing a path = 0.21** b path = 0.16** Sensation seeking Alcohol use c path = 0.12* The total effect was 0.15 [0.12 + (0.21*0.16) = 0.15] 23% of this total effect was explained by the indirect (mediated) effect *p < .05, ** p < .01, * ** p < .001. Fit indices: 2 (30) =60.31, p=.001; CFI=.95; TLI=.93, RMSEA=.053.

  14. Discussion and conclusion Part of the association between sensation seeking and adolescent alcohol use is mediated by the propensity that sensation seekers have for being involved in unstructured socialization with peers How? Extracurricular activities are adolescents main foci of activity It may drive the development of friendships the more extracurricular activities adolescents share and the more repeated encounters the activities encourage, the more likelihood there is for peer group formation One potential underlying mechanism of the mediated effect is through social networks, e,g. social networks of high sensation seekers are formed through high level of participation in unstructured social activities Involvement in these social networks puts adolescents at particular high risk of alcohol use

  15. Limitations Convenience sample Cross-sectional causal relations need to be verified The current study was designed to be exploratory and provide the first initial knowledge which may inform future longitudinal and experimental studies

  16. Implication for prevention Sensation seeking is biologically determined we cant change it through prevention programs However, one could try to gear sensation seeking adolescents towards structured activity patterns Provide experience with risky activities (e.g. high speed sports like water skiing) under structured conditions and authoritative supervision may satisfy need for sensation-seeking while also protecting them from their own risky behavior (Romer et al., 2010) To encourage engagement with structured activities that also stimulate the dopamine system, such as team sports

  17. Thank You!

Related


More Related Content

giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#giItT1WQy@!-/#