Adolescents’ Alcohol Use: Does the Type of Leisure Activity Matter? A Cross-National Study

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to analyze the relationship between structured, unstructured, and family leisure activities on the frequency of adolescent alcohol intake across three different countries (Spain, Peru, and The Netherlands). The self-control of adolescents was also investigated as a moderator in the relationship between leisure activities and alcohol consumption. Methodology: This research involved 4608 adolescents aged between 12 and 17 from three countries (Spain, Peru, and The Netherlands). In Spain and Peru, data was collected through a self-report questionnaire which was part of the Your Life project. In The Netherlands, a self-questionnaire was used, collected by the University of Utrecht. A multiple logistic regression was performed for each country. Results: The results showed that participation in unstructured leisure activities increased the likelihood of drinking more frequently and more heavily in all three countries. Structured leisure activities, in general, did not have a significant predictive effect on alcohol consumption in any of the countries. Family leisure activities reduced the risk of engaging in yearly alcohol use and yearly binge drinking among adolescents, especially in The Netherlands and Spain. The protective effect of family leisure and unstructured leisure risk on yearly alcohol use applied especially to Dutch adolescents with a low level of self-control. Discussion: The article emphasizes the need for parents to engage in leisure activities with their child; participation in unstructured activities is not to be encouraged.

Longitudinal associations between adolescent out‐of‐school time and adult substance use

“…The lack of structure also provides time and opportunities for adolescents to engage in problem behavior. Consistent with routine activity theory, studies conducted in the United States, European, and South American contexts have found unsupervised, unstructured time with peers to be linked to higher alcohol and marijuana use during the middle and high school years (Albertos et al, 2021 ; Badura et al, 2018 ; Lee & Vandell, 2015 ).…”

“…These settings differ in their structure, potential for adult supervision, and opportunities for different types of interactions with adults and with peers. A robust literature has documented the relations between adolescents' time in out‐of‐school settings and their alcohol and marijuana use in high school through cross‐sectional and short‐term longitudinal studies (Adachi‐Mejia et al, 2014 ; Albertos et al, 2021 ; Kwan et al, 2014 ; Lee & Vandell, 2015 ). What is less clear is whether there are lingering long‐term effects of adolescents' time in out‐of‐school settings on their substance use in adulthood.…”

Evaluación del Modelo de Predisposición Adquirida para consumo de alcohol en adolescentes

“…En línea con investigaciones previas, la edad influyó de manera directa en la frecuencia de ceea: los adolescentes más grandes son quienes presentaron de manera más frecuente esta modalidad de consumo (41,43,44,80). A su vez, se observó un efecto significativo y positivo de la edad sobre las ea positivas de sociabilidad y negativo sobre las ea negativas de riesgo y agresividad que, a su vez, influyó en una mayor o menor frecuencia de ceea, respectivamente.…”

“…Más allá de estas diferencias metodológicas, la alta prevalencia de este tipo de consumo resulta preocupante, ya que estudios previos han mostrado que quienes exhiben este tipo de consumo experimentan una mayor cantidad de consecuencias negativas derivadas por el consumo de alcohol (5,6,82,83). Asimismo, los resultados evidenciaron un consumo de alcohol similar entre varones y mujeres, lo cual coincide con estudios nacionales e internacionales (1,43,45,46,84). Esta ausencia de diferencias en la adolescencia, junto con el aumento en la cantidad y la frecuencia de consumo de alcohol por parte de las mujeres jóvenes, que ha derivado en el acortamiento de la brecha en el consumo de hombres y mujeres jóvenes, es un factor de riesgo particularmente para las mujeres (85)(86)(87)(88).…”

“…Otras variables relevantes al examinar el mpa para el uso de alcohol en adolescentes son la edad y el sexo. Diferentes estudios indican que el consumo de alcohol en adolescentes aumenta con la edad y es mayor en varones, aunque otros trabajos no han encontrado diferencias significativas en el consumo de mujeres y varones (1,(43)(44)(45)(46). Asimismo, Rivarola Montejano et al hallaron asociaciones directas de la edad con las ea y asociaciones directas e indirectas con el consumo de esta sustancia (41).…”