An evaluation of the relationship between family bonding characteristics and adolescent alcohol use

Adolescent alcohol use continues to be a major social problem in our country. Recent researchers have identified social/family bonding as a potential protective factor against adolescent problem behaviors. In the present study, the relationship between social bonding characteristics and alcohol use is examined in over 700 young adolescent boys and girls. In an open-ended format, participating students described their current and previous family structures, and degree of current family conflict and cohesion. Further, they described their general use of alcohol as well as specific situations in which they decided not to drink alcohol despite the opportunity to do so. Based on regression analyses, family variables and student decision-making rationale are related to adolescent alcohol use but the predictive factors vary by gender of the participant.