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. 2013 Jan;74(1):84-93.
doi: 10.15288/jsad.2013.74.84.

Patterns of alcohol use and related consequences in non-college-attending emerging adults

Michael J Cleveland  1 , Kimberly A Mallett, Helene R White, Rob Turrisi, Sarah Favero
Affiliations

Patterns of alcohol use and related consequences in non-college-attending emerging adults

Michael J Cleveland et al. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2013 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: Among emerging adults, those who do not attain postsecondary education are at highest risk for experiencing longterm problems related to alcohol use, including alcohol dependence. The purpose of the current study was to identify latent classes of alcohol users among non-college-attending youth and examine correlates of class membership.

Method: Screening criteria were used to select emerging adults between ages 18 and 22 years with no postsecondary education (N = 264) from a prerecruited probability-based Web panel. Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify common patterns of alcohol use. Grouping variables and demographic variables were added to the LCA model, and rates of alcohol-related consequences across the LCA classes were compared.

Results: Four classes of drinking patterns were identified: (a) current nondrinkers (34%), (b) weekend light drinkers (38%), (c) weekend risky drinkers (23%), and (d) daily drinkers (5%). Class membership was associated with early onset of alcohol use (age 14 or younger), marital status, employment status, and urban residency (area populated by 50,000 or more people). The number of latent classes did not differ across sex and legal drinking age status, although proportions of subjects within classes varied by age. Weekend risky drinkers were most likely to report sickness and feelings of guilt because of drinking, whereas daily drinkers were most likely to report getting into fights, driving a car after drinking, and missing work.

Conclusions: Similar to college samples of emerging adults, most of this noncollege sample belonged to latent classes defined by rare or moderate alcohol use. Nevertheless, nearly a quarter of the sample reported high-risk drinking behaviors, and a small number reported drinking alcohol on a daily basis. Both of these classes were at elevated risk for experiencing a number of alcohol-related consequences.

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Figures

Figure 2
Figure 2
Estimated probability that participants in the drinking classes experienced each alcohol-related consequence in the past year. The values in parentheses refer to probability for the overall sample. Estimated probabilities for members of the current nondrinker class were equal to zero for each consequence item and are not displayed. WLD = weekend light drinker; WRD = weekend risk drinker; DD = daily drinker.
Figure 1
Figure 1
Latent class membership probabilities by grouping variables of legal drinking age status (left) and sex (right). CND = current nondrinker; WLD = weekend light drinker; WRD = weekend risk drinker; DD = daily drinker.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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