Early alcohol experiences and adolescent mental health: a population-based study in Taiwan.
In this study, we examine whether adolescent emotional and behavior problems vary by history of early alcohol experiences. A national sample of 6974 alcohol-naïve and 4337 alcohol-experienced youths aged 15-18 years were identified within the 2004 National Survey of Illegal Drug Use among Adolescents in Taiwan. Four alcohol experience groups were created based on recency and frequency of alcohol use: (1) naïve; never drank alcohol, (2) trial use; first and only consumption of alcohol occurred more than 6 months preceding the assessment, (3) past use; alcohol used on more than one occasion but had not had a drink in the 6 months prior to the assessment, and (4) current use; consumed alcohol more than once and drank within the 6 months preceding the interview. A Chinese adaptation of the Youth Self-Report (YSR) assessed eight behavior syndromes: withdrawn, anxious/depressed, somatic complaints, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, rule-breaking behavior, and aggressive behavior. Multivariate response models (GLM/GEE) were used to examine the relationship of alcohol experiences with emotional and behavior problems. Alcohol-using youth were more likely to experience several specific emotional or behavioral syndromes than their alcohol-naïve counterparts. For example, youth with a history of alcohol use had an estimated 30-60% increase in the odds of experiencing items within the aggressive behavior syndrome as compared with alcohol-naïve youth. The type of early alcohol involvement in adolescence may exert differential effects on emotions and behaviors expressed across and within syndromes; these may warrant distinctions in informing etiological research and preventive efforts.
Chen
Chuan-Yu
CY
Division of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Research, National Health Research Institutes, Taipei, Taiwan.
Storr
Carla L
CL
Tang
Gung-Mong
GM
Huang
Su-Ling
SL
Hsiao
Chuhsing Kate
CK
Chen
Wei J
WJ
D000293:Adolescent; D017668:Age of Onset; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology