Binge drinking trajectories across adolescence: for early maturing youth, extra-curricular activities are protective.
OBJECTIVE
To describe adolescent binge drinking trajectories across grades 8-11 and examine their associations with pubertal timing, socioeconomic status (SES), and structured activity and sport involvement.


METHODS
Longitudinal data were analyzed from the Youth Activity Participation Study (YAPS), an annual survey of youth in 39 schools across Western Australia (N = 1,342).


RESULTS
Latent class growth analysis revealed four binge drinking trajectory groups: Accelerating (early onset, increased frequency), Steep Increase (delayed onset, rapid escalation), Slow Growth (delayed onset, gradual increase) and Stable Low (abstinence). Accelerating was characterized by early pubertal timing, low SES, and more sport involvement in grade 8, relative to Stable Low. The groups did not significantly differ in their grade 8 activity participation. However, for early maturers, greater grade 8 activity participation was associated with a decreased probability of belonging to Steep Increase relative to Stable Low.


CONCLUSIONS
Early pubertal timing and sports participation increased the odds of belonging to a problematic binge drinking trajectory. For youth at-risk due to early pubertal timing, structured activities appear to be protective against a problematic developmental course of binge drinking.
School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia; Prevention Research Center, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona. Electronic address: K.Modecki@murdoch.edu.au.
Kathryn Lynn
KL
Modecki
School of Psychology and Exercise Science, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia.
Bonnie L
BL
Barber
Department of Psychology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Jacquelynne S
JS
Eccles
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000367:Age Factors; D063425:Binge Drinking; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011627:Puberty / Q000523:psychology*; D011998:Recreation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012923:Social Class; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology*
Binge drinking; Extra-curricular activities; Longitudinal studies; Pubertal timing