Development of a risk profile for intentions to use alcohol among fifth and sixth graders.
OBJECTIVE
The relationship between intentions to use alcohol and risk factors was examined among fifth and sixth graders.


METHODS
Subjects completed a questionnaire that assessed intentions to use alcohol and eight risk factors. Risk factors included peer and parental use and attitudes toward use, sensation seeking, tolerance of deviance, rejection of parental authority, and family cohesion.


RESULTS
Multivariate analyses showed that the risk factors were able to discriminate between those who intended to use alcohol and those who did not. Family factors showed stronger relationships to intentions among fifth graders, and peer factors were more strongly related to intentions among sixth graders.


CONCLUSIONS
Risk factors can be used to target preadolescents who may be at risk for early alcohol use, and programs that attempt to prevent early initiation of alcohol use among adolescents can be designed.
Webb
J A
JA
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Baer
P E
PE
McKelvey
R S
RS
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010379:Peer Group; D010553:Personality Development; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012307:Risk Factors