The early drinking onset is related to hazardous drinking patterns (DP), which in turn increases risk for alcohol- related problems and disorders, later in life. It is highlighted the importance of developing conceptual and longitudinal models that integrate the contribution of different variables. The prospective effect of different factors on future adolescents' DP was analyzed. A sample of 332 high- school adolescents participated in this study. Scales to measure personality traits, alcohol expectancies (AE), drinking motives, peers and parental alcohol use, participants' DP, and perceived social support were used. Instruments were administered at baseline and twelve months later. A path analysis showed that most of the factors had a significant effect upon future DP. Personality traits and positive AE had the lowest effect, while DP at baseline, peers' drinking and negative AE were the most important predictors of future DP. It's emphasized the importance of considering multiple variables when trying to explain adolescents' drinking behaviors in a comprehensive way. The strongest effect of prior DP suggests that once adolescents developed a pattern of alcohol consumption it is highly probable they maintain or increase their drinking.
Pilatti, A., Brussino, S. A., & Godoy, J. C. (2013). Factors influencing alcohol consumption in Argentine adolescents: A prospective path analysis. Revista De Psicología, 22(1), Pág. 22–36. https://doi.org/10.5354/0719-0581.2013.27716
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