Gender differences in alcohol onset and drinking frequency in adolescents: an application of the theory of planned behavior

Abstract

The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) is a model utilized to predict human behavior that was used to examine adolescents’ alcohol drinking behavior (onset and frequency of drinking). Longitudinal data collected over a 2 year period from Norwegian junior high school students (N = 1,563) was used. Multilevel structural equation models was used to examine the utility of the TPB to explain variance in adolescents’ onset and frequency of alcohol use. Gender differences between the different TPB components and alcohol use was tested. Onset and frequency of alcohol drinking were predicted by intention, for both genders. Intention to onset drinking was in turn predicted by subjective norms (SN) for both girls and boys while intention to drinking frequency was predicted by SN and attitude for girls, and SN for boys. Onset of drinking and frequency of alcohol use were directly related to perceived behavior control (PBC) for girls. Gender differences in TPB were detected. Alcohol preventive programs will benefit from focusing on attitude, SN and PBC for girls and SN for boys.