No abstract

This paper investigates the affective responses of youth toward specific elements featured in television alcohol advertisements (i.e., people character, animal character, music, story, and humor). It also examines the associations between advertising likeability and its potential influence. Respondents were 253 children and adolescents in California (47% male; aged 10-17). Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires in group settings. Respondents were shown a stimulus tape containing television advertisements for beer and soft drinks. The tape was stopped at the end of each advertisement to allow respondents to answer questions about that advertisement before viewing the next. Perceived likeability of beer advertisements is a function of the positive affective responses evoked by the specific elements featured in the advertisements. Liking of specific elements featured in beer advertisements significantly contributed to the overall likeability of these advertisements and subsequently to advertising effectiveness indicated by purchase intent of product and brand promoted by these advertisements. Advertisements that focus primarily on product qualities or send a message of legal drinking age were rated less favorably and evoked less desire to purchase the product. Implications for countering the effects of alcohol advertising on young people are discussed.

Objective-This study investigated whether young people's substance use and aggressive behaviors are related to their listening to music containing messages of substance use and violence.Method-Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and from a sample of community college students aged 15-25 (N = 1056; 43% male). A structural equation modeling method was used to simultaneously assess the associations between listening to various genres of music, alcohol use, illicit drug use, and aggressive behaviors, taking into account respondents' age, gender, race/ethnicity, and level of sensation seeking.Results-Listening to rap music was significantly and positively associated with alcohol use, problematic alcohol use, illicit drug use, and aggressive behaviors when all other variables were controlled. Additionally, alcohol and illicit drug use were positively associated with listening to musical genres of techno and reggae. Control variables such as sensation seeking, age, gender and race/ethnicity were significantly related to substance use and aggressive behaviors. Conclusion-The findings suggest that young people's substance use and aggressive behaviors may be related to their frequent exposure to music containing references to substance use and violence. Conversely, music listening preference may reflect some personal predispositions or lifestyle preferences. Alternatively, substance use, aggression and music preference are independent constructs, but share common "third factors."Listening to music is the number one rated leisure-time activity for American youth (Roberts, Foehr et al., 1999; Roberts, Henriksen et al., 1999). Some music genres contain more references to substance use and social defiance than do other genres. A recent study of music popular among adolescents from 1996-1997 revealed that nearly half (47%) of all rap/hip hop (hereafter referred to as rap) songs mentioned alcohol (Roberts, Henriksen et al., 1999). In contrast, other genres of music were much less likely to mention alcohol in the lyrics (country-western (Herd, 2005). Of songs that mentioned alcohol, the positive attitude toward alcohol expressed in lyrics increased from 43% in 1970-1989 to 73% in 1994-1997. Furthermore, a music video study revealed that twice as much violence and criminal activity was depicted in rap and rock music videos as compared to country, adult contemporary and rhythm-and-blues music videos . Similarly, weapon carrying was shown more often in rap and rock music videos. Together, these studies raise an important issue: Will frequent exposure to music containing references to substance use, violence, and social defiance impact youth's behaviors? HHS Public AccessEmpirical studies suggest that alcohol and illicit drug use among youth may be associated with listening to popular music such as hard rock, heavy metal, rap, and techno (e.g., Arnett, 1991Arnett, , 1992Forsyth et al., 1997;Hitzler, 2002;Miranda and Claes, 2004). Similarly, aggressive behaviors have been linked to various genres of ...

Aim This study examined how community alcohol outlet density may be associated with drinking among youths. Methods Longitudinal data were collected from 1091 adolescents (aged 14–16 at baseline) recruited from 50 zip codes in California with varying levels of alcohol outlet density and median household income. Hierarchical linear models were used to examine the associations between zip code alcohol outlet density and frequency rates of general alcohol use and excessive drinking, taking into account zip code median household income and individual-level variables (age, gender, race/ethnicity, personal income, mobility, and perceived drinking by parents and peers). Findings When all other factors were controlled, higher initial levels of drinking and excessive drinking were observed among youths residing in zip codes with higher alcohol outlet densities. Growth in drinking and excessive drinking was on average more rapid in zip codes with lower alcohol outlet densities. The relation of zip code alcohol outlet density with drinking appeared to be mitigated by having friends with access to a car. Conclusion Alcohol outlet density may play a significant role in initiation of underage drinking during early teen ages, especially when youths have limited mobility. Youth who reside in areas with low alcohol outlet density may overcome geographic constraints through social networks that increase their mobility and the ability to seek alcohol and drinking opportunities beyond the local community.

No abstract

Purpose-To investigate how community alcohol outlet density may be associated with alcohol access among adolescents.Methods-Data were collected through a three-wave panel study with youth aged 14-16 at baseline using computer-assisted telephone interviews. Study participants were recruited from 50 zip codes with varying alcohol outlet density and median household income in California. Data analyses were conducted using multilevel, linear growth models and data from 1,028 youth (52% male; 51% White).Results-After taking into account individual-level factors and zip code median household income, zip code alcohol outlet density was significantly and positively related to the initial levels of the likelihood and frequency of getting alcohol through various sources including commercial outlets, shoulder tapping, home or family members, and underage acquaintances.Conclusions-High levels of alcohol outlets in the community enable youth access to alcohol through commercial outlets, family, and social networks. Keywordsalcohol outlet density; alcohol access; availability of alcohol; adolescent One widely used intervention strategy to reduce underage drinking in the United States has focused on restricting youth ability to purchase alcohol from commercial establishments. This approach is proved to be effective. For example, increasing minimum drinking age is associated with reduction in alcohol consumption among young people [1,2]. Community-based intervention activities such as responsible beverage service training and enforcement of underage sales laws also appear to reduce sales of alcohol to minors [3][4][5]. Yet, American youth still find alcohol readily available. The Monitoring the Future study reports that in 2006, 63% of the 8 th graders, 83% of the 10 th graders, and 93% of the 12 th graders considered alcohol "fairly easy" or "very easy" to get [6]. This should not be surprising given the various sources through which youth can acquire alcohol.Research examining alcohol availability through retail outlets suggests that, despite the intervention efforts, such availability is quite widespread. For example, alcohol purchase studies indicate that underage-looking individuals could purchase alcohol from off-premise outlets 30-70% of the time [3,[7][8][9][10][11]. In addition, the likelihood that purchase attempts succeed at one outlet is higher if similar outlets exist nearby [8]. In this respect, youth who wish to Publisher's Disclaimer: This is a PDF file of an unedited manuscript that has been accepted for publication. As a service to our customers we are providing this early version of the manuscript. The manuscript will undergo copyediting, typesetting, and review of the resulting proof before it is published in its final citable form. Please note that during the production process errors may be discovered which could affect the content, and all legal disclaimers that apply to the journal pertain. drink may have greater access to alcohol through commercial outlets in areas with higher alcohol outlet den...

This study identifies social mechanisms that might help prevent youth from being involved in driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) and riding with drinking drivers (RWDD). Data collected through telephone surveys with 1534 adolescents and young adults aged 15-20 years (mean=17.6, S.D.=1.6) in California, USA, were analyzed. Structural equation modeling analyses showed that DUI and RWDD were strongly related to drinking in unstructured situations, modeling of DUI by peers and parents, and perceived peer approval or disapproval of DUI. DUI outcome expectancies were indirectly related to DUI and RWDD through situational drinking. Parental monitoring and DUI law enforcement were also indirectly related to DUI and RWDD through DUI expectancies and other mechanisms. The findings, overall, suggest that parental influence remains important even through late adolescence. Parental monitoring, in particular, might help to reduce unstructured socializing with peers, drinking, and affiliation with peers who engage in DUI. Parental monitoring may also foster beliefs about the risks of DUI. Conversely, parents' own DUI behavior may normalize drinking and DUI behaviors, thus countering monitoring efforts.

No abstract