Alcohol-related problems among adolescents and the role of a sense of coherence |
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| Authors: | Kent W. Nilsson Bengt Starrin Bo Simonsson Jerzy Leppert |
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| Affiliation: | Centre for Clinical Research, Uppsala University, Central Hospital Västerås, Sweden; Department of Social Science, Karlstad University, Sweden; Faculty of Health and Social Studies, Lillehammer University College, Norway; Division of International Health (IHCAR), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden |
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| Abstract: | Alcohol abuse is generally regarded as a major risk factor for antisocial problem behaviour among adolescents. On the other hand, personal coping strategies hypothetically can be seen as protective of alcohol-related behaviour problems. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of sense of coherence (SOC) on alcohol-related behavioural problems in an SOC-alcohol intoxication model. The method of study was a cross-sectional, school-based questionnaire study of 4,305, 16- and 19-year-old adolescents. We found that both a SOC and the frequency of alcohol intoxication were independently associated with alcohol-related behavioural problems. Our model shows that the combination of these two independent factors amplifies them considerably, and adolescents with a strong SOC, despite frequent intoxication, were protected to a large degree from experiencing alcohol-related problems. |
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| Keywords: | adolescent alcohol consumption coping prevention |
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