Frequent Alcohol Use of Adolescents in Low-Income Families: Application of the Multiple Disadvantage Model.

Abstract

Background: This study investigated relationships between low-income adolescent drinkers' frequent alcohol use and five factors: social disorganization, social structural, social integration, mental health, and access to healthcare.

Objective: A sample of 1,256 low-income adolescent drinkers and caregivers were extracted from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study.

Results: Logistic regression yielded results showing adolescent drinkers' weekly drinking to be associated positively with Hispanic adolescents, drinking peers, adolescents' depression/anxiety, and caregiver's daily drinking. Adolescent drinkers' weekly drinking was associated negatively with caregiver's age, family income below 100% of federal poverty level, caregiver supervision, and having usual place for health care.

Conclusions/importance: Implications included support of adolescents' selection of desirable peers, promotion of caregiver supervision (especially among Hispanic adolescents), provision of assistance to families in poverty, provision of substance use treatment for caregivers and adolescents, and provision of mental health services to adolescents with depression or anxiety.