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. 2008 Jan 17:8:5.
doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-8-5.

Frequency, course and correlates of alcohol use from adolescence to young adulthood in a Swiss community survey

Hans-Christoph Steinhausen  1 , Susanne Eschmann, Annina Heimgartner, Christa Winkler Metzke
Affiliations

Frequency, course and correlates of alcohol use from adolescence to young adulthood in a Swiss community survey

Hans-Christoph Steinhausen et al. BMC Psychiatry. .

Erratum in

  • BMC Psychiatry. 2010;10:15

Abstract

Background: Few studies have analyzed the frequency of alcohol use across time from adolescence to young adulthood and its outcome in young adulthood. A Swiss longitudinal multilevel assessment project using various measures of psychopathology and psychosocial variables allowed for the study of the frequency and correlates of alcohol use so that this developmental trajectory may be better understood.

Method: Alcohol use was studied by a questionnaire in a cohort of N = 593 subjects who had been assessed at three times between adolescence and young adulthood within the Zurich Psychology and Psychopathology Study (ZAPPS). Other assessment included questionnaire data measuring emotional and behavioural problems, life events, coping style, self-related cognitions, perceived parenting style and school environment, and size and efficiency of the social network.

Results: The increase of alcohol use from early adolescence to young adulthood showed only a few sex-specific differences in terms of the amount of alcohol consumption and the motives to drink. In late adolescence and young adulthood, males had a higher amount of alcohol consumption and were more frequently looking for drunkenness and feeling high. Males also experienced more negative consequences of alcohol use. A subgroup of heavy or problem drinkers showed a large range of emotional and behavioural problems and further indicators of impaired psychosocial functioning both in late adolescence and young adulthood.

Conclusion: This Swiss community survey documents that alcohol use is problematic in a sizeable proportion of youth and goes hand in hand with a large number of psychosocial problems.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Frequencies of alcohol consumption (≥1 glass of alcohol ever) at three times.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Weekly alcohol consumption at three times.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Frequencies of drunkenness during the last two months at three times.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Motives of alcohol consumption at three times ("Feeling high" & "Drunkeness" were not asked at time 1).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Negative consequences of alcohol consumption at times 2 and 3.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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