Predictors of Alcohol Drinking among African-American Adolescents

This study sought to investigate the factors that predict alcohol drinking among African-American children of alcoholics (COA). The instruments used were: (1) the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test (J. Jones, 1981); (2) the Adolescent Alcohol Involvement Scale (J. Mayer and W. Filstead, 1979); and (3) the New York Self-Esteem Scale (M. Rosenberg, 1965). Participants were 649 adolescents, aged 12 to 19, 42% male, who were recruited from youth-serving organizations. Fifty-two percent of these adolescents were alcohol drinkers, and 15% of these misused alcohol, representing only 2.3% of the overall sample. One out of four adolescents was classified as COA, representing 27% of the alcohol users. Age, self-esteem, and being COA were strong predictors of alcohol drinking. Gender did not have any bearing on being COA, and the effect of gender on drinking was the same for COAs and nonCOAs. The proportion of COAs involved in drinking was significantly higher for COAs. In fact, age, self-esteem, and the status of COA/nonCOA were predictors of alcohol involvement. (Contains 3 tables and 33 references.) (Author/SLD)