Effects of home access and availability of alcohol on young adolescents' alcohol use.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of parental provision of alcohol and home alcohol accessibility on the trajectories of young adolescent alcohol use and intentions.


METHODS
Data were part of a longitudinal study of alcohol use among multi-ethnic urban young adolescents who were assigned randomly to the control group of a prevention trial.


METHODS
Data were collected from a cohort of youth, and their parents, who attended public schools in Chicago, Illinois (2002-2005).


METHODS
The sample comprised the 1388 students, and their parents, who had been assigned randomly to the control group and were present and completed surveys at baseline, in the beginning of 6th grade (age 12). The sample was primarily low-income, and African American and Hispanic.


METHODS
Students completed self-report questionnaires when in the 6th, 7th and 8th grades (age 12-14 years; response rates 91-96%). Parents of the 6th grade students also completed questionnaires (70% response rate).


RESULTS
Student report, at age 12, of parental provision of alcohol and home alcohol availability, and parental report of providing alcohol to their child and the accessibility of alcohol in the home, were associated with significant increases in the trajectories of young adolescent alcohol use and intentions from ages 12-14 years. Student report of receiving alcohol from their parent or taking it from home during their last drinking occasion were the most robust predictors of increases in alcohol use and intentions over time.


CONCLUSIONS
Results indicate that it is risky for parents to allow children to drink during early adolescence. When these findings are considered together with the risks associated with early onset of alcohol use, it is clear that parents can play an important role in prevention.
Komro
Kelli A
KA
University of Florida, College of Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Health Policy Research and Institute for Child Health Policy, Gainesville, FL 32610-0177, USA. komro@ufl.edu
Maldonado-Molina
Mildred M
MM
Tobler
Amy L
AL
Bonds
Jennifer R
JR
Muller
Keith E
KE
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D044383:Black People; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations / Q000208:ethnology; D016487:Parenting; D013334:Students; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D001741:Black or African American