title: Characteristics of adolescent excessive drinkers compared with consumers and abstainers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed at comparing adolescent abstainers, consumers and excessive drinkers in terms of family characteristics (structure of family, socioeconomic factors), perceived social support, personality characteristics (extraversion, self-esteem, aggression) and well-being.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data were obtained from 3694 elementary school students in the 8th and 9th grades from several cities in Slovakia (mean age 14.5, 49.0% men; response rate 93%). Respondents completed questions on the use of alcohol and on family structure (parental divorce), the socioeconomic position of the family (parents' education and family affluence), perceived social support, extraversion, self-esteem, aggression and psychological well-being. They were split into three groups based on the pattern of alcohol use--abstainers, consumers and excessive drinkers (i.e. being drunk at least once during the past 4 weeks).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed significant differences between abstainers, consumers and excessive drinkers in almost every characteristic explored. A risky pattern of alcohol consumption occurs more frequently among adolescents who have divorced parents, higher socioeconomic position, higher scores for perceived social support from friends, extraversion, negative self-esteem and aggression, and lower scores for social support from family and for well-being.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A risky pattern of alcohol consumption is more likely among relatively easily identifiable groups of adolescents from high socioeconomic position and divorced families. Their personalities and social networks have characteristics that could be accommodated in preventive interventions as well.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School Kosice Institute for Society and Health, Medical Faculty, P J Safarik University, Kosice, Slovak Republic. tomcikova.zuzana@gmail.com
authors.forename: Zuzana
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tomcikova
authors.forename: Andrea Madarasova
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Geckova
authors.forename: Jitse P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: van Dijk
authors.forename: Sijmen A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Reijneveld
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005190:Family / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012649:Self Concept; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012944:Social Support; D013695:Temperance / Q000523:psychology*