title: Attitudes, age and sex as correlates and predictors of alcohol consumption among 14- to 17-year-olds in New Zealand.
abstract: Data from a national, representative sample of 1278 New Zealand 14- to 17-year-olds are analysed to explore the relationships between estimated alcohol consumption, age, sex, and attitudes to alcohol and its role in society. Relations between these variables are examined by regression and canonical correlation procedures. They are shown both to differ between the sexes and to be complex. Just over 10% of the variance associated with alcohol consumption proved to be predictable from a linear combination of age, sex, and attitude variables. The attitude component displaying the strongest linkage with consumption reflected a concern with alcohol and alcohol-related problems.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012737:Sex Factors