Alcohol use and binge drinking: An 18-year trend study of prevalence and correlates

by Willy Pedersen and Tilmann von Soest.

journal cover

Alcohol and Alcoholism.

Citation

"Alcohol use and binge drinking: An 18-year trend study of prevalence and correlates." Alcohol and Alcoholism, 50, 219-225.

Abstract

Several studies suggest a rapid decrease of alcohol use among adolescents after the turn of the century. With decreasing prevalence rates of smokers, a so-called hardening may have taken place, implying that remaining smokers are characterized by more psychosocial problems. Are similar processes witnessed among remaining adolescent alcohol users as well?

Methods: In 1992, 2002 and 2010 we used identical procedures to collect data from three population-based samples of 16- and 17-year-old Norwegians (n = 9207). We collected data on alcohol consumption, binge drinking, parental factors, use of other substances, conduct problems, depressive symptoms, social integration, sexual behaviour and loneliness.

Results: There was a steep increase in all measures of alcohol consumption from 1992 to 2002, followed by a similar decline until 2010. Most correlates remained stable over the time span.

Conclusion: Alcohol use was consistently related to psychosocial problems; on the other hand, alcohol users reported higher levels of social acceptance and social integration than did non-users. There were no signs of ‘hardening’ as seen for tobacco use.

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Published Sep. 22, 2016 2:15 PM - Last modified June 21, 2018 1:45 PM