Youthful drinking behaviors and problems: Childhood’s social capital matters

• Main Authors: Yu Lo, 羅妤
• Other Authors: Chuan-Yu Chen
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2018
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/574bjd

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 公共衛生研究所 === 106 === Background: Social capital at home and at school have long been recognized to play an important role in educational outcomes among school-aged children, yet potential long-term effects on substance use are less explored. The present study aims to investigate the connection linking late childhood’s family- and school- social capital with subsequent alcohol drinking and problems and drinking problems. Methods: Data were obtained from the Alcohol-Related Experiences among Children (AREC). A total of 928 6th graders (age 11-12) were ascertained from 17 elementary schools in an urban region of Taiwan in 2006 (response rate = 61.0%wt); follow-up was conducted at 8th grade (age 13-14; n = 783, follow-up rate = 82.6%wt) and young adulthood (age 18-19; n = 645, follow-up rate = 68.0%wt). Information concerning demographics, family background, family social capital, alcohol drinking, and teacher-student relationship was collected by self-administered questionnaires; primary school social capital (i.e., school size and teacher-student ratio) were assessed via official statistics. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate relationship estimates while taking complex survey procedures into account. Results: Nearly one in ten reported having drank alcohol on four or more occasions (i.e., occasional drinking) in the past year at 8th grade, and 14% experienced past-month binge drinking in young adulthood. Multilevel analyses indicated that the effects of family social capital indicators may differ by developmental stage. Parental involvement appeared more prominent for occasional drinking in adolescence (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 0.54) whereas higher monthly allowance may increase binge drinking in adulthood (aOR = 1.99). School social capital appeared prominent in shaping alcohol drinking in adolescence and young adulthood, such as teacher-student ratio (occasional drinking: aOR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.63-0.98; binge drinking: aOR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.67-0.86). Conclusions: Our findings warrant future attention on social capitals at family- and school-levels in late childhood while devising and delivering preventive strategies targeting alcohol drinking and problems in young people.