Characteristics of non-drinking adolescents: a longitudinal Swedish study

This study investigated whether non-drinking adolescents (n = 195), with no previous experience with alcohol, differed over time from drinking adolescents (n = 406). Potential differences in psychological health (mental well-being, psychosomatic symptoms, conduct problems), social interaction freque...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Karin Boson, Sabina Vlasman, Kristina Berglund
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Adolescence and Youth
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/02673843.2024.2312861
Description
Summary:This study investigated whether non-drinking adolescents (n = 195), with no previous experience with alcohol, differed over time from drinking adolescents (n = 406). Potential differences in psychological health (mental well-being, psychosomatic symptoms, conduct problems), social interaction frequencies (new friends, time spent with friends and social interaction through a screen device), psychoactive substance use, and positive attitudes towards alcohol was investigated. Additionally, the study examined whether these attributes in 9th grade could predict total abstinence two years later. Non-drinkers were consistently characterized by fewer social interactions, less positive attitudes towards alcohol, a lower probability of using other drugs, and fewer conduct problems from 14 to 17 years, which may imply a more introverted personality function. This study contributes insights into predicting factors linked to alcohol abstinence in adolescence, particularly the characteristics of non-drinking adolescents in a society where a declining trend of alcohol consumption is emerging.
ISSN:0267-3843
2164-4527