Tracking of Avoidance of Alcohol Use and Smoking Behavior in a Fifth Grade Cohort over Three Years

Abstract

This study examined the maintenance of positive health behavior (avoidance of alcohol use and cigarette smoking) and factors associated with the maintenance of these behaviors from fifth through seventh grade by a cohort of rural students (N = 232). African American and White students showed similar patterns of high avoidance of alcohol until seventh grade. Although more girls avoided use than boys, avoidance decreased in both groups with progression in grade. Mothers', fathers', and best friends' drinking behaviors influenced avoidance behavior; drinking was less likely to occur among those whose parents and friends did not drink. Friends' drinking behavior influenced alcohol use as early as fifth grade. Smoking avoidance was maintained by 74% of the students over the 3 years. Although there were no racial differences in smoking, African Americans started smoking about 1 year earlier than Whites. During seventh grade, an increase in smoking occurred among boys and girls, but was particularly striking among girls. Avoidance of smoking was influenced by mothers' behavior but not fathers'. Best friends' smoking behavior exerted a major influence on avoidance between grades 6 and 7. In grades 5 and 6, those who avoided smoking were more physically active than smokers, but by seventh grade their physical activity declined to a similar level as smokers. Rural adolescent boys seemed to be at early risk for alcohol use and smoking, while rural girls delayed involvement by 1 to 2 years. Communities, schools, and families can help adolescents avoid alcohol use and smoking through early prevention efforts.

Siblings, friends, course-mates, club-mates: How adolescent health behavior homophily varies by race, class, gender, and health status

“…Despite blacks’ healthier smoking and drinking habits than white adolescents, black girls have significantly lower physical activity than whites and also steeper declines in activity throughout adolescents (Kimm et al, 2002). Similarly, adolescents of low socioeconomic status transition into unhealthy behavior groups for smoking and weight gain at elevated rates, which may be due in part to differences in peer influence (Felton et al, 1999), but social class differences in health behavior homophily or peer influence have not been explicitly examined.…”

Prevalence of impaired driving behaviors in a diverse, rural, southern middle school

“…Driving after drinking continues to be problematic for adolescents, especially in rural areas, because early alcohol use and risky behaviors may be more prevalent in those areas (Felton et al, 1999;O'Malley and Johnston, 1999). Adolescents living in rural populations have challenges that are quite different from those of their urban and suburban counterparts.…”

Substance Use, Resistance Skills, Decision Making, and Refusal Efficacy Among Mexican and Mexican American Preadolescents

“…In addition to the need to examine substance use-related social skills within a younger sample, research suggests that gender and ethnic differences in preadolescent skills may have ramifications for substance use and prevention (Epstein, Botvin, Diaz, & Schinke, 1995;Felton et al, 1999).…”

“…This article focuses on the social skills related to decision making and refusal for Mexican and Mexican American preadolescents. In addition, the number of studies that report gender differences in preadolescent social skills and refusal efficacy emphasize the potential importance of considering gender in the relationships between those variables and substance use for Mexicans and Mexican Americans (Epstein et al, 1995;Felton et al, 1999).…”