Christina M Mitchell1, Janette Beals, Nancy Rumbaugh Whitesell. 1. American Indian and Alaska Native Programs, University of Colorado Denver, F800, P.O. Box 6508, Aurora, Colorado 80045-0508, USA. Christina.Mitchell@UCDenver.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We explored patterns of alcohol use among American Indian youths as well as concurrent predictors and developmental outcomes 6 years later. METHOD: This study used six semi-annual waves of data collected across 3 years from 861 American Indian youths, ages 14-20 initially, from two western tribes. Using a latent Markov model, we examined patterns of change in latent states of adolescent alcohol use in the past 6 months, combining these states of alcohol use into three latent statuses that described patterns of change across the 3 years: abstainers, inconsistent drinkers, and consistent drinkers. We then explored how the latent statuses differed, both initially and in young adulthood (ages 20-26). RESULTS: Both alcohol use and nonuse were quite stable across time, although we also found evidence of change. Despite some rather troubling drinking patterns as teens, especially among consistent drinkers, most of the youths had achieved important tasks of young adulthood. But patterns of use during adolescence were related to greater levels of substance use in young adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: Latent Markov modeling provided a useful categorization of alcohol use that more finely differentiated those youths who would otherwise have been considered inconsistent drinkers. Findings also suggest that broad-based interventions during adolescence may not be the most important ones; instead, programs targeting later alcohol and other drug use may be a more strategic use of often limited resources.
OBJECTIVE: We explored patterns of alcohol use among American Indian youths as well as concurrent predictors and developmental outcomes 6 years later. METHOD: This study used six semi-annual waves of data collected across 3 years from 861 American Indian youths, ages 14-20 initially, from two western tribes. Using a latent Markov model, we examined patterns of change in latent states of adolescent alcohol use in the past 6 months, combining these states of alcohol use into three latent statuses that described patterns of change across the 3 years: abstainers, inconsistent drinkers, and consistent drinkers. We then explored how the latent statuses differed, both initially and in young adulthood (ages 20-26). RESULTS: Both alcohol use and nonuse were quite stable across time, although we also found evidence of change. Despite some rather troubling drinking patterns as teens, especially among consistent drinkers, most of the youths had achieved important tasks of young adulthood. But patterns of use during adolescence were related to greater levels of substance use in young adulthood. CONCLUSIONS: Latent Markov modeling provided a useful categorization of alcohol use that more finely differentiated those youths who would otherwise have been considered inconsistent drinkers. Findings also suggest that broad-based interventions during adolescence may not be the most important ones; instead, programs targeting later alcohol and other drug use may be a more strategic use of often limited resources.
Authors: Janette Beals; Paul Spicer; Christina M Mitchell; Douglas K Novins; Spero M Manson; Cecilia K Big Crow; Dedra Buchwald; Buck Chambers; Michelle L Christensen; Denise A Dillard; Karen DuBray; Paula A Espinoza; Candace M Fleming; Ann Wilson Frederick; Diana Gurley; Lori L Jervis; Shirlene M Jim; Carol E Kaufman; Ellen M Keane; Suzell A Klein; Denise Lee; Monica C McNulty; Denise L Middlebrook; Laurie A Moore; Tilda D Nez; Ilena M Norton; Healther D Orton; Carlette J Randall; Angela Sam; James H Shore; Sylvia G Simpson; L L Yazzie Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2003-10 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Kimberly L Henry; James N McDonald; Eugene R Oetting; Patricia Silk Walker; R Dale Walker; Fred Beauvais Journal: Psychol Addict Behav Date: 2011-03