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Bidirectional relationships in the development of internalising symptoms and alcohol use in adolescence
Author(s) -
Birrell Louise,
Slade Tim,
Teesson Maree,
Prior Katrina,
Chapman Catherine,
Hides Leanne,
McBride Nyanda,
Mewton Louise,
Allsop Steve,
Andrews Gavin,
Newton Nicola C.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1111/dar.13070
Subject(s) - comorbidity , anxiety , clinical psychology , psychology , association (psychology) , substance use , depression (economics) , alcohol , developmental psychology , psychiatry , psychotherapist , macroeconomics , biochemistry , chemistry , economics
and Aims Previous literature has demonstrated an inconsistent relationship between alcohol use and internalising symptoms (anxiety, depression) in youth. This study aimed to clarify this link examining the bidirectional relationships between internalising symptoms and alcohol use in a community sample of adolescents, taking into account the effect of gender and externalising symptoms. Design and Methods Parallel latent growth models were run to prospectively explore the bidirectional relationships between internalising symptoms and alcohol use when assessed five times over 2 years, among 1557 (67% female) adolescents from age 13.5 years. Results Results showed that higher initial levels of internalising symptoms predicted increasing alcohol use frequency; however, this association was no longer significant once externalising symptoms and gender were accounted for. No bidirectional associations between internalising symptoms and alcohol use were found. Discussion and Conclusions This study adds to the literature examining the bidirectional relationships between internalising symptoms and alcohol use in adolescence. Findings highlight the importance of both gender and externalising symptoms in the development of this type of comorbidity and may help explain discrepant findings in the existing literature. Future prevention efforts for internalising problems and alcohol use should consider gender and externalising symptoms.