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Factors associated with alcohol consumption, problem drinking, and related consequences among high school students in Taiwan
Author(s) -
YEH MEIYU
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1819.2006.01459.x
Subject(s) - ethnic group , peer group , logistic regression , environmental health , peer pressure , psychology , alcohol , alcohol abuse , indigenous , alcohol consumption , demography , human factors and ergonomics , suicide prevention , consumption (sociology) , poison control , medicine , developmental psychology , social psychology , psychiatry , biochemistry , chemistry , ecology , social science , sociology , anthropology , biology
Abstract This research evaluated the risk factors associated with alcohol consumption, problem drinking, and related consequences among high school students in Taiwan. A total of 779 10th grade students from four randomly selected high schools in eastern Taiwan were included in the survey. Survey data were self‐reported by students and analyzed using logistic regression methods. The results showed that alcohol consumption and problem drinking was 2.22–2.71‐fold greater in male than in female adolescents. Parents and peer groups were the determinants influencing alcohol consumption, and these influences could be enhanced particularly by the drinking behaviors of fathers and peer groups, and the relationship of students with their peer groups. The probability of developing adolescent problem drinking was fourfold greater in students whose fathers had habits of drinking. Ethnicity had a notable impact on the risk of problem drinking. The occurrence of problem drinking among indigenous adolescents was 2.98‐fold higher than among Hans, indicating a diversity of biological factors, social norms, and expectation for alcohol drinking between these two ethnic groups. This study suggests that a policy for preventing alcohol abuse among high school students should start by addressing the two major associated problems: a need to earn peer group recognition, and the lack of family support among at‐risk students.