title: Socioeconomic status and alcohol-related behaviors in mid- to late adolescence in the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prior studies of the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and alcohol consumption and problems in adolescence have been inconclusive. Few studies have examined all three major SES indicators and a broad range of alcohol-related outcomes at different ages.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children cohort, we examined (by logistic regression, with differential weighting to control for attrition) the relationship between family income and parental education and occupational status, and five alcohol outcomes assessed at ages 16 and 18 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At age 16, high SES-as indexed by income and education-significantly predicted frequent alcohol consumption. Low SES-as measured by education and occupational status-predicted alcohol-related problems. At age 18, high SES-particularly income and education-significantly predicted frequent alcohol consumption and heavy episodic drinking and, more weakly, symptoms of alcohol dependence. All three measures of SES were inversely related to high-quantity consumption and alcohol behavioral problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In adolescents in the United Kingdom, the relationship between SES and alcohol-related behaviors is complex and varies as a function of age, SES measure, and specific outcome. High SES tends to predict increased consumption and, in later adolescence, heavy episodic drinking and perhaps symptoms of alcohol dependence. Low SES predicts alcohol-related behavioral problems and, in later adolescence, high-quantity alcohol consumption.
authors.affiliation: Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Kenneth S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Kendler
authors.affiliation: Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Charles O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol-School of Community and Social Medicine, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hickman
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol-School of Community and Social Medicine, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heron
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol-School of Community and Social Medicine, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Macleod
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol-School of Community and Social Medicine, Bristol, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Glyn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, Department of Psychiatry, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia, Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, Virginia.
authors.forename: Danielle M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Dick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D016015:Logistic Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology