The Impact of Pubertal Timing on Adolescents' Alcohol Use

Abstract

The relation between pubertal timing and alcohol use was investigated in a nationally representative sample (N = 4,686) of junior high school students who were followed up 2 years later (N = 3,862). Information regarding pubertal timing and status, sex-role identification, number of alcohol intoxications, substance use, sexual behavior, friends' alcohol use, and involvement in other types of problem behaviors was obtained. The results showed that early timing of pubertal development correlated with number of alcohol intoxications and number of units consumed on each occasion, and, to a lesser degree, with the frequency of alcohol use. Moreover, correlations were stronger among males than among females. Substantial parts of the association between pubertal timing and alcohol intoxications were mediated through friends' problem behavior. Pubertal timing predicted alcohol use at follow-up, but the effect was mostly due to increased alcohol intoxications at initial testing.