Puberty-dependent sleep regulation and alcohol use in early adolescents.
BACKGROUND
Research has shown a bi-directional relation between alcohol use and sleep regulation in adults. Much less is known about this association in early adolescents, while profound puberty-dependent transitions regarding sleep patterns take place in early adolescence. Moreover, puberty has been associated with an increase in alcohol use of adolescents.


METHODS
In this study, we investigated the associations between pubertal development, sleep preference, sleep problems, and alcohol use in 431 early adolescents (mean age: 13.66). Second, it was studied whether the associations changed when controlling for adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems. Furthermore, we included gender as a moderator on all the associations.


RESULTS
Results showed that pubertal development was positively associated with sleep problems and more evening-type tendencies (e.g., favoring later bedtimes), which in turn were positively related to alcohol use. Underlying psychopathology, gender and educational level did not change these relationships.


CONCLUSIONS
From this study, it can be concluded that both puberty and sleep regulation are important factors in explaining alcohol use in early adolescence.
Pieters
Sara
S
Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands. S.Pieters@pwo.ru.nl
Van Der Vorst
Haske
H
Burk
William J
WJ
Wiers
Reinout W
RW
Engels
Rutger C M E
RC
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008297:Male; D011627:Puberty / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology*; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced*