title: The density of alcohol outlets and adolescent alcohol consumption: An Australian longitudinal analysis.
abstract: Higher density of alcohol outlets has been linked to increased levels of adolescent alcohol-related behaviour. Research to date has been cross-sectional. A longitudinal design using two waves of annual survey data from the Australian arm of the International Youth Development Study was used. The sample comprised 2835 individuals with average age at wave 2 of 14 years (SD=1.67; range=11-17 years). GSEM was used to examine how absolute levels of alcohol outlet density was associated with student-reported alcohol use one year later, while controlling for prior alcohol use, risk factors at wave one and changes in density over the 2 years. Adolescents' perception of alcohol availability and friends' alcohol use were tested as potential mediators of the association between alcohol outlet density and adolescent alcohol use. Elasticity modelling identified a 10% increase in overall density at wave one was associated with an approximately 17% increase in odds of adolescent alcohol consumption at wave two. Living in areas with a higher density of outlets was associated with a statistically significant increase in the likelihood of adolescents developing early age alcohol consumption.
authors.affiliation: Deakin University Australia, Department of Prevention Science, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Australia. Electronic address: bosco.rowland@deakin.edu.au.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rowland
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, The Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Evans-Whipp
authors.affiliation: Australian Catholic University, School of Psychology, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy 3065, Australia.
authors.forename: Sheryl
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hemphill
authors.affiliation: Deakin University Australia, Department of Prevention Science, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Australia.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: The Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, La Trobe University, Australia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Livingston
authors.affiliation: Deakin University Australia, Department of Prevention Science, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development, Australia.
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Toumbourou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001315:Australia; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003132:Commerce / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000066608:Underage Drinking / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Adolescents; Alcohol; Consumption; Density; Longitudinal