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Description
ABSTRACT
In the United States, more than 70 percent of all deaths among youth and young adults each year are related to four causes: motor vehicle crashes, other unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide. Alcohol misuse and abuse contribute to each of these behaviors. Alcohol is the most frequently consumed mind-altering substance among adolescents. In addition to its independent negative health effects and contributions to unintentional injury, alcohol abuse is identified as a correlate of chronic disease. There is a need to understand factors that may influence adolescents 'decisions to engage in, or adopt, risky behaviors and to assess differences in these influencing factors. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of organized activity participation on adolescent males' use of alcohol and intentions to use alcohol. This study revealed protective effects of involvement in recreational activities on alcohol abuse and intentions but no effect of engagement in sports activities. Studies that can successfully address these relationships can enhance the development of multi-dimensional interventions for reducing and preventing risk behaviors in youth.
INTRODUCTION
In the United States, more than 70 percent of all deaths among youth and young adults each year are related to four causes: motor vehicle crashes, other unintentional injuries, homicide, and suicide (Eaton, et al., 2006). Alcohol misuse and abuse contributes to each of these behaviors (Grunbaum, et al., 2002). In addition to its independent negative health effects and contributions to unintentional injuries, alcohol is also identified as a correlate of chronic disease risk (Emberson, Shaper, Wannamethee, Morris & Whincup, 2005; Thun, et al., 2006).
Adolescence is described as the peak period for initiation to alcohol use (D'Amico & McCarthy, 2006) and alcohol is the most frequently consumed mind-altering substance among adolescents (MacKay, Fingerhut & Duran, 2000). Binge drinking behavior occurs frequently among youth and it is associated with multiple health risks (Harnett, Thorn, Herring, Kelly, 2000). Approximately 75% of the alcohol consumed is in the form of binge drinks (Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2001). Alcohol is described as a gateway drug that sometimes leads to experimentation with marijuana and marijuana use often functions as a gateway to use of other illicit substances (Wagner & Anthony, 2002). In addition, heavy use of alcohol has been hypothesized to lead to the abuse of multiple substances in adulthood (Gossop, Marsden & Stewart, 2002).
Because of its strong association with injury and disease, the federal government has called for initiatives to address alcohol-related health-compromising behaviors (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2000). These initiatives delineate risk-reduction objectives which target the use of alcohol by adolescents and young adults. Specific alcohol-related objectives target a reduction in the use of alcohol and a decrease in the proportion of binge-drinking episodes. To date, progress has been made in some areas, yet alcohol abuse behaviors remain common among adolescents. Health behavior theories such as Jessor's Problem Behavior Theory (1982), Bandura's Social Learning Theory (1977) and Ajzen's Theory of Planned Behavior (1988) have been examined to example adolescents' risk behaviors. However, more research is needed.
There is an ever-increasing need to understand factors that may influence adolescents' decisions to engage in, or adopt, risky behaviors and to assess differences in these influencing factors. Studies that can successfully address these relationships could serve to enhance the development of multi-dimensional interventions for reducing and preventing risk behaviors in youth.
Adolescent males have high rates of use and abuse of alcohol (Harnett, Thom, Herrin & Kelly, 2000; Lorente, Peretti-Watel, Griffet & Frelot, 2003). While many variables are believed to influence alcohol behavior, the purpose of our study was to assess the influence of organized activity participation on adolescent males' use of alcohol, and intentions to use alcohol. Specifically, we examined differences... |
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