%0 Journal Article %J Psychol Addict Behav %D 2011 %T Early age alcohol use and later alcohol problems in adolescents: Individual and peer mediators in a bi-national study. %A Mason, W A %A Toumbourou, John W %A Herrenkohl, Todd I %A Hemphill, Sheryl A %A Catalano, Richard F %A Patton, George C %K Adolescent %K Adolescent Behavior %K Age of Onset %K Alcohol Drinking %K Alcohol-Related Disorders %K Cross-Cultural Comparison %K Female %K Humans %K Impulsive Behavior %K Longitudinal Studies %K Male %K Models, Statistical %K Peer Group %K Risk Factors %K Risk-Taking %K Social Control, Informal %K Students %K Substance-Related Disorders %K Victoria %K Washington %K Young Adult %X

This paper examines whether there is cross-national similarity in the longitudinal relationship between early age alcohol use and adolescent alcohol problems. Potential mechanisms underlying this relationship also are examined, testing adolescent alcohol use, low self-regulation, and peer deviance as possible mediators. Students (N = 1,945) participating in the International Youth Development Study, a longitudinal panel survey study, responded to questions on alcohol use and influencing factors, and were followed annually over a 3-year period from 2002 to 2004 (98% retention rate). State-representative, community student samples were recruited in grade 7 in Washington State, United States (US, n = 961, 78% of those eligible; Mage = 13.09, SD = .44) and Victoria, Australia (n = 984, 76% of those eligible; Mage = 12.93, SD = .41). Analyses were conducted using multiple-group structural equation modeling. In both states, early age alcohol use (age 13) had a small but statistically significant association with subsequent alcohol problems (age 15). Overall, there was little evidence for mediation of early alcohol effects. Low self-regulation prospectively predicted peer deviance, alcohol use, and alcohol problems in both states. Peer deviance was more positively related to alcohol use and low self-regulation among students in Victoria compared to students in Washington State. The small but persistent association of early age alcohol use with alcohol problems across both samples is consistent with efforts to delay alcohol initiation to help prevent problematic alcohol use. Self-regulation was an important influence, supporting the need to further investigate the developmental contribution of neurobehavioral disinhibition.

%B Psychol Addict Behav %V 25 %P 625-33 %8 2011 Dec %G eng %N 4 %R 10.1037/a0023320 %0 Journal Article %J Pediatrics %D 2010 %T Pubertal stage and the prevalence of violence and social/relational aggression. %A Hemphill, Sheryl A %A Kotevski, Aneta %A Herrenkohl, Todd I %A Toumbourou, John W %A Carlin, John B %A Catalano, Richard F %A Patton, George C %K Adolescent %K Aggression %K Antisocial Personality Disorder %K Child %K Depressive Disorder %K Female %K Humans %K Interpersonal Relations %K Male %K Prevalence %K Puberty %K Risk Factors %K Spouse Abuse %K Victoria %K Violence %K Washington %K Young Adult %X

OBJECTIVE: We examined associations between pubertal stage and violent adolescent behavior and social/relational aggression.

METHODS: The International Youth Development Study comprises statewide representative student samples in grades 5, 7, and 9 (N = 5769) in Washington State and Victoria, Australia, drawn as a 2-stage cluster sample in each state. We used a school-administered, self-report student survey to measure previous-year violent behavior (ie, attacking or beating up another person) and social/relational aggression (excluding peers from the group, threatening to spread lies or rumors), as well as risk and protective factors and pubertal development. Cross-sectional data were analyzed.

RESULTS: Compared with early puberty, the odds of violent behavior were approximately threefold higher in midpuberty (odds ratio [OR]: 2.87 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.81-4.55]) and late puberty (OR: 3.79 [95% CI: 2.25-6.39]) after adjustment for demographic factors. For social/relational aggression, there were weaker overall associations after adjustment, but these associations included an interaction between pubertal stage and age, and stronger associations with pubertal stage at younger age were shown (P = .003; midpuberty OR: 1.78 [95% CI: 1.20-2.63]; late puberty OR: 3.00 [95% CI: 1.95-4.63]). Associations between pubertal stage and violent behavior and social/relational aggression remained after the inclusion of social contextual mediators in the analyses.

CONCLUSIONS: Pubertal stage was associated with higher rates of violent behavior and social/relational aggression, with the latter association seen only at younger ages. Puberty is an important phase at which to implement prevention programs to reduce adolescent violent and antisocial behaviors.

%B Pediatrics %V 126 %P e298-305 %8 2010 Aug %G eng %N 2 %R 10.1542/peds.2009-0574