Exploratory Study on the Association between Interpersonal Violence Experiences and Alcohol Use among Adolescents

Abstract

Although a high prevalence of interpersonal violence among adolescents has been documented, we know very little about the association between interpersonal violence and alcohol use among adolescents. This study examines the relation between interpersonal violence experiences and alcohol use among a general random sample of 4,564 adolescents recruited through a randomized school-based survey of high school students in Florida. Overall, 30% of high school students reported lifetime interpersonal violence through physical fights, and 8% reported being physically forced to have sexual intercourse. In multivariable multinomial weighted logistic models adjusting for gender, ethnicity, and grade, high school students who were involved in physical fights or physically forced to have sexual intercourse had greater odds of alcohol use or binge drinking in the past 30 days than students who were not exposed to these experiences. In conclusion, adolescents who have faced interpersonal violence experiences may be at a high risk for alcohol use. Findings suggest that early evaluation of interpersonal violence experiences may be important as part of alcohol use prevention programs among adolescents. The article discusses implications for social work prevention programs and recommendations for future research.

Youth self-report of child maltreatment in representative surveys: a systematic review

“…47,51,115 Parental passive consent was used in multiple surveys to increase response rate and avoid sampling bias potentially related to active parental consent. 65,80,106 In one study, researchers designed and used a modified consent procedure in case any of the participants were being maltreated by a primary caregiver. 58…”

Family Environment Factors: Alcohol and Drug Misuse among Indonesian Students: Indonesia National Narcotics Survey of Students

“…Students who have experienced verbal and physical violence from their parents have a higher tendency to consume alcohol and drug use [21]. Adolescents who experience violence will likely suffer from stress and consume alcohol as self-medication [22].…”

Violencia escolar y consumo de alcohol en adolescentes en etapa de secundaria

“…En cuanto a la relación entre las variables de estudio, de acuerdo a la tabla 4, se encontró que a mayor violencia escolar en los estudiantes, existe un mayor consumo de alcohol, estos resultados coinciden con los estudios de otros autores (2,20,21), lo que podría significar que los estudiantes estén utilizando el consumo de alcohol como un modo de afrontamiento poco saludable frente a la violencia escolar.…”

“…El presente estudio permitió abordar la violencia en los estudiantes desde la perspectiva de víctima y agresor y mostrar cómo se relaciona con el consumo de alcohol, respecto a esto, se encontró una relación positiva y significativa entre la victimización y el consumo de alcohol, tal y como lo señalan otros autores (20,21) quienes sugieren que los adolescentes victimizados probablemente adoptan la conducta de consumo de alcohol para afrontar los problemas derivados de estas situaciones de violencia.…”