Risk and protective factors among high school students on the US/Mexico border.
OBJECTIVE
To study risk and protective factors for alcohol-related problems among high schools students in El Paso, Tex.


METHODS
A total of 1366 high school students from 16 different high schools in El Paso, Tex, participated in an anonymous questionnaire regarding alcohol use and alcohol-related behaviors. The sample was 70% Hispanic.


RESULTS
Results showed that academic performance, peer influence, parental attitudes, and age at first consumption of alcohol were important predictors of drinking among border youth.


CONCLUSIONS
Risk factors contribute to alcohol use among high school students.
Almodovar
Adriana
A
Interdisciplinary Health Science Program, University of Texas at El Paso, 1101 N. Campbell, El Paso, TX 79902, USA. adrianagr@utep.edu
Tomaka
Joe
J
Thompson
Sharon
S
McKinnon
Sarah
S
O'Rourke
Kathleen
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000208:ethnology; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas / Q000453:epidemiology