Predictors of Alcohol Drinking Among African American Adolescents: Implications for Violence Prevention

This study sought to (a) determine the proportion of children of alcoholics (COAs) among an African American adolescent population aged 12 to 19 (N = 649); and (b) examine the influence of and relationship between COA status, self-esteem, age, and gender on their involvement in alcohol drinking. Although 52% identified themselves as alcohol drinkers, an insignificant number of these (4.4%, or 2.3% of the sample) reported abusing alcohol. One in four were COAs; 27% of alcohol users were COAs. Age, low self-esteem, and COA status were found to be strong predictors of alcohol drinking among these youth. The hypothesis that positive self-esteem places African American youth in a position of strength to counter the adverse consequences of parental alcoholism and other debilitating circumstances was confirmed.