Adolescent predictors of social and coping drinking motives in early adulthood

Chelsie D Temmen; Lisa J Crockett

doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2018.03.018

Adolescent predictors of social and coping drinking motives in early adulthood

J Adolesc. 2018 Jul:66:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2018.03.018. Epub 2018 Apr 25.

Authors

Chelsie D Temmen¹, Lisa J Crockett²

Affiliations

¹ University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Psychology, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308, USA. Electronic address: ctemmen@huskers.unl.edu.
² University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Psychology, 238 Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308, USA. Electronic address: ecrockett1@unl.edu.

PMID: 29704652
DOI: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2018.03.018

Abstract

Although motivations to use alcohol have been shown to predict alcohol use and alcohol-related problems, little is known about how drinking motives develop. This study identified antecedents in adolescence of social and coping motives for drinking in early adulthood. Data came from a longitudinal study of youths in the eastern U.S. (N = 451) followed from secondary school into early adulthood (52.4% female; Mage = 23.01; SD = 1.03). In a structural equation analysis, frequency of drunkenness and peer alcohol use positively predicted young adult social motives, whereas only frequency of drunkenness predicted coping motives. These findings indicate that alcohol use behaviors and social relationships in adolescence may contribute to the development of adult drinking motives.

Keywords: Adolescence; Alcohol use; Drinking motives; Early adulthood.

MeSH terms

Adaptation, Psychological*
Adolescent
Adolescent Behavior / psychology*
Alcohol Drinking / psychology*
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Motivation
Peer Group
United States
Young Adult