Research article summary (published 15 Sep 2009):

Relationship between alcohol use and violent behavior among urban African American youths from adolescence to emerging adulthood: a longitudinal study.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We examined developmental trajectories of alcohol use and violent behavior among urban African American youths and the longitudinal relationship between these behaviors from adolescence to emerging adulthood. METHODS: Our sample included 649 African American youths (49% male) followed for 8 years. We assessed violent behavior and alcohol use by asking participants how often they had engaged in each behavior in the preceding 12 months. Growth curve analyses were conducted to identify the developmental trajectories of the 2 behaviors and to explore the longitudinal relationship between them. RESULTS: Violent behavior peaked in middle to late adolescence and declined thereafter, whereas the frequency of alcohol use increased steadily over time. These developmental trajectories varied according to gender. Among both male and female participants, early violent behavior predicted later alcohol use, and early alcohol use predicted later violent behavior. Moreover, changes in one behavior were associated with changes in the other. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support a bidirectional relationship between alcohol use and violent behavior. Efforts to reduce one problem can be expected to reduce the other. Programs and policies aimed at reducing violence or alcohol use among adolescents should take into account this relationship.

Author information

Author/s: Xue, Yange (Y); Zimmerman, Marc A (MA); Cunningham, Rebecca (R);

Affiliation: Mathematica Policy Research, 600 Alexander Park, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA. yxue(-atsign-)mathematica-mpr.com

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article

Journal: American journal of public health (Am J Public Health), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Nov; vol 99 (issue 11) : pp 2041-8

Dates: Created 2009/10/12; Completed 2009/10/30;

PMID: 19762672, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/30/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Adolescent African Americans - psychology Alcohol Drinking Female Humans Longitudinal Studies Male Odds Ratio

Parents Regression Analysis Risk Factors Sex Factors Students Urban Population Violence Young Adult

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