Determinants of Binge Drinking among Adolescents in Denmark

Abstract

Background and Objective: Binge drinking is a relatively common behavior among adolescents in Denmark. The aim of this study is to assess whether peer alcohol drinking, mothers' and fathers' attitudes toward alcohol drinking, and the adolescents' own financial situations (e.g., the presence of pocket money) predict binge drinking among adolescents in Denmark. Methods: This study is based on the Danish data from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs, which took place in 2011. This cross-sectional survey obtained data from 2765 adolescents who were in grade 9 in Denmark at that time. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between the outcome variable of binge drinking and the exposure variables of alcohol-drinking peers, pocket money, and mother's/father's approval of intoxication. Results: The risk of binge drinking increased with the number of alcohol-drinking peers (trend test, p < .0001) and with the amount of pocket money spent (trend test, p < .0001. The association between the mother's approval of intoxication and binge drinking is complex. Boys had a higher risk of binge drinking (odds ratio, 2.2 [1.1-4.3]) if their mothers approved of their intoxication with alcohol; however, this association was not seen among girls (odds ratio, 1.0 [0.5-2.0]). There was no significant association between the father's approval of intoxication and binge drinking. Conclusion:The proportion of alcohol-drinking peers and the amount of pocket money spent appear to be determinants of adolescent binge drinking. The mother's approval of intoxication appears to be a determinant for binge drinking among boys but not among girls. The father's approval of intoxication does not appear to be a determinant of binge drinking.

School-level (dis)advantage and adolescents’ substance-use behaviours: The role of collective efficacy and norms

“…Aspects of social capital have, for instance, been found to encourage substance use among adults (Chuang and Chuang, 2008; Poortinga, 2006). A reasonable assumption is that similar processes also operate in the younger part of the population (Pedersen et al, 2014).…”

“…Adolescents in advantaged school settings may for instance engage in these types of behaviour in order to combat the stress, anxiety or depression they experience from achievement pressures (Luthar and Becker, 2002). Moreover, adolescents in more advantaged schools may also have greater access to economic resources, which enables them to spend money on alcohol, tobacco and/or drugs (Pedersen et al, 2014). Exploring other aspects of individual and contextual socioeconomic advantage than those under study here may thus help our understanding further.…”