title: Reassessing the Effects of Early Adolescent Alcohol Use on Later Antisocial Behavior: A Longitudinal Study of Students in Victoria, Australia and Washington State, United States.
abstract: The effect of early adolescent alcohol use on antisocial behavior was examined at one- and two-year follow-up in Washington, United States and Victoria, Australia. Each state used the same methods to survey statewide representative samples of students (N = 1,858, 52% female) in 2002 (Grade 7 [G7]), 2003 (Grade 8 [G8]), and 2004 (Grade 9 [G9]). Rates of lifetime, current, frequent, and heavy episodic alcohol use were higher in Victoria than Washington State, whereas rates of five antisocial behaviors were generally comparable across states. After controlling for established risk factors, few associations between alcohol use and antisocial behavior remained, except that G7 current use predicted G8 police arrests and stealing and G9 carrying a weapon and stealing; G7 heavy episodic use predicted G8 and G9 police arrests; and G7 lifetime use predicted G9 carrying a weapon. Hence, risk factors other than alcohol were stronger predictors of antisocial behaviors.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University.
authors.forename: Sheryl A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Hemphill
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Deakin University & School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University.
authors.forename: Jessica A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Heerde
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University.
authors.forename: Kirsty E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Scholes-Balog
authors.affiliation: Centre for Adolescent Health, The University of Melbourne & Murdoch Childrens Research Institute.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Todd I
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Herrenkohl
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology and Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing Research, Deakin University.
authors.forename: John W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Toumbourou
authors.affiliation: Social Development Research Group, School of Social Work, University of Washington.
authors.forename: Richard F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Catalano
keywords: adolescence; alcohol use; antisocial behavior; cross-national; longitudinal