Factors associated to alcohol use by adolescents

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the association between alcohol use by adolescents and environmental, family and social relations factors. Method: and epidemiological study, of the cross-sectional cohort type, with a sample consisting of 303 students from the Brazilian 9th grade of elementary level of public and private schools in Divinópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data was collected through the replication of the “General Information” and “Use of Alcohol” modules from the National Survey of School Health-2015. The answer variable was alcohol consumption in life, associating it with explanatory variables related to: living with parents, maternal schooling, administrative dependency of the school, alcohol use by friends, and future perspectives. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used using Pearson’s chi-square tests and Poisson’s model for robust variances. Results: an association was found in the multivariate analysis between consumption of beverages and intending to study only until high school or technical school (p=0.007), continuing to study and work (p=0.003), not living with parents (p=0.010), and having friends who make use alcohol (p=0.009). Conclusion: social relationships were the most relevant factor for alcohol consumption by adolescents, mainly influenced by friends who use it and by the interpersonal relationships established by them.