CONICET | Buscador de Institutos y Recursos Humanos

Background: Heavy episodic drinking is associated with a variety of alcohol-related problems, including physiological consequences (e.g., vomiting, passing out), academic problems (e.g., missing classes or poor performance), interpersonal consequences (e.g., fighting or having problems with significant others), emotional negative feelings such as guilt or sadness, and injuries (Cranford et al. 2006; Hingson et al., 2009). Adolescent drinking, especially when occurs early, is related with heightened risk of behavioral problems at adulthood (McGue & Iacono, 2008). Objectives: To analyze the influence of distal (e.g., personality traits) and proximal (e.g., cognitive factors) variables on adolescent alcohol intake. Method: 332 adolescents (62% female, mean age = 14.93, SD = 1.36; age range: 13-18 years old) were assessed through separate scales for (a) alcohol intake, (b) expectancies and motivations for intake; (c) personality traits, (d) peers and parents alcohol use, and (d) perceived social support. Data analysis: A path analysis was conducted to determine putative risk/protective factors for adolescent drinking behavior. Results: Incidence of drinking behaviors was similar to those found in the last Argentinian survey of high school students (e.g., 87% lifetime prevalence of alcohol consumption; SEDRONAR, 2011). In this sample of Argentinian adolescents drinking motives and peers? drinking, but not personality traits nor alcohol expectancies, were the most important determinants of drinking patterns. Drinking motives and peers? drinking explained the highest percentage of the total variance. Negative alcohol expectancies was another important predictor. Discussion: The present results suggest that the influence of peers seems to be an important determinant of adolescent alcohol drinking. Intervention strategies focused on peer groups might be a promising intervention to reduce alcohol consumption

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