Explaining higher levels of alcohol use among working adolescents: an analysis of potential explanatory variables.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose ofthis study was to explain higher rates of alcohol use observed among working adolescents relative to nonworking adolescents.


METHODS
In-home survey data were collected from a representative sample of 4,497 (50% male) 14-17 year olds who participated in the 1998 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine whether relationships between work status and past-month alcohol use and heavy drinking would persist after adjusting for demographic characteristics and selected risk and protective factors in the community, family, school and peer-individual domains.


RESULTS
As anticipated, significantly higher rates of past-month alcohol use and heavy drinking were reported by working than nonworking adolescents. Multivariate analyses indicated that the higher rates of past-month alcohol use and heavy drinking among working adolescents were largely explained by demographic characteristics (e.g., age, race/ethnicity), together with perceived drinking norms among adults, other students and friends.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings of this study suggest that the relationship between employment and alcohol use among adolescents is largely spurious, due to demographic differences between working and nonworking adolescents. Our findings also suggest, however, that working adolescents are more likely to be exposed to adults and peers who drink, which may be attributed in part to their work setting.
Paschall
Mallie J
MJ
Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514-3307, USA. paschall@pire.org
Ringwalt
Christopher L
CL
Flewelling
Robert L
RL
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D003625:Data Collection / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004651:Employment / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors