title: Associations of Truancy, Perceived School Performance, and Mental Health With Alcohol Consumption Among Adolescents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined associations of truancy, perceived school performance, and mental health with adolescents' week, weekend, and binge drinking.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1167 secondary school students of Dutch ethnicity (mean age, 15.9 years, SD = 0.69). Alcohol consumption, truancy, perceived school performance, and mental health status were assessed with self-report questionnaires. Ordinal regression analyses were performed to assess the associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Truancy (odds ratio [OR] = 2.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70-3.77) and poorer mental health (OR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07) were associated with binge drinking more often. Truancy (OR = 1.89; 95% CI, 1.14-3.16) and poorer mental health (OR = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.09) were also associated with drinking (more) alcohol on week days. Furthermore, truancy (OR = 2.60; 95% CI, 1.76-3.83) and having an average (OR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.19-2.77) or less than average (OR = 3.65; 95% CI, 1.93-6.90) perceived school performance were associated with drinking (more) alcohol on the weekend.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Findings of this study suggest that adolescents who are truant and/or have a poor mental health status are at increased risk of binge and week drinking. Furthermore, adolescents who are truant and/or have an average or less than average perceived school performance are at increased risk of weekend drinking.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. m.holtes@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Muriel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holtes
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. r.bannink@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Rienke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bannink
authors.affiliation: Municipal Public Health Service South-Holland South, Karel Lotsyweg 40, 3318 AL, Dordrecht, the Netherlands. e.joosten@dienstgezondheidjeugd.nl.
authors.forename: Evelien
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Joosten-van Zwanenburg
authors.affiliation: Department of Youth Health Care, Consortium Rivas - Careyn, PO Box 90, 4200 AB, Gorinchem, the Netherlands. e.van.as@rivas.nl.
authors.forename: Els
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van As
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. h.raat@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Hein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Raat
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. s.broeren@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: Suzanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Broeren
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D057566:Self Report; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: adolescents; binge drinking; mental health; perceived school performance; truancy; week drinking; weekend drinking