Underage drinking: prevalence and risk factors associated to drinking experiences among Argentinean children.

PILATTI A; GODOY JC; BRUSSINO S; PAUTASSI RM

ALCOHOL

ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2013 vol. 47 p. 323 - 331

0741-8329

The aim of this study was to describe prevalence and predictors of alcohol drinking behaviors in children. Data was obtained from 362 children aged 8-12 years old (M = 10.44; SD = 1.213; 61.9% female) from the City of Cordoba (Argentina). Several scales were used to assess risk factors (personality traits, alcohol expectancies and perceived peer alcohol use) for alcohol drinking and alcohol drinking experiences. Hierarchical regression analysis was used to determine the contribution of multiple risk factors on quantity of alcohol use. Results showed that 58% of children had tasted alcohol and that around one third drank alcohol again after the first drinking experience. Twelve- year old children showed significantly higher prevalence of tasting and drinking, as well as significantly greater frequency and quantity of alcohol use than younger children. Eighty percent of the children who liked alcohol during their first experimentation reported they drank alcohol again. Among children who did not like alcohol during their first experimentation, only 31% drank alcohol again. Underage drinking usually occurred under adult supervision in family settings, when parents or other relatives allowed them to drink or were aware of children?s drinking. Results of the hierarchical regression analysis showed that being older and male, having more peers that drink alcohol, and having higher levels of extroversion, and alcohol expectancies for social facilitation increased the risk for greater alcohol use. The final model explained 33% of the total variance.