Relationship between alcohol use and violent behavior among urban African American youths from adolescence to emerging adulthood: a longitudinal study.
OBJECTIVE
We examined developmental trajectories of alcohol use and violent behavior among urban African American youths and the longitudinal relationship between these behaviors from adolescence to emerging adulthood.


METHODS
Our sample included 649 African American youths (49% male) followed for 8 years. We assessed violent behavior and alcohol use by asking participants how often they had engaged in each behavior in the preceding 12 months. Growth curve analyses were conducted to identify the developmental trajectories of the 2 behaviors and to explore the longitudinal relationship between them.


RESULTS
Violent behavior peaked in middle to late adolescence and declined thereafter, whereas the frequency of alcohol use increased steadily over time. These developmental trajectories varied according to gender. Among both male and female participants, early violent behavior predicted later alcohol use, and early alcohol use predicted later violent behavior. Moreover, changes in one behavior were associated with changes in the other.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results support a bidirectional relationship between alcohol use and violent behavior. Efforts to reduce one problem can be expected to reduce the other. Programs and policies aimed at reducing violence or alcohol use among adolescents should take into account this relationship.
Xue
Yange
Y
Mathematica Policy Research, 600 Alexander Park, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA. yxue@mathematica-mpr.com
Zimmerman
Marc A
MA
Cunningham
Rebecca
R
D000293:Adolescent; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010290:Parents; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students; D014505:Urban Population; D014754:Violence; D055815:Young Adult