Impulsivity and Sensation Seeking as Susceptibility Markers for Peer and Family Influences on Adolescent Alcohol use May 2020

Abstract

Adolescents’ alcohol use is affected by several environmental influences such as a negative family environment and peers who engage in alcohol use. How adolescents respond to these environmental influences might differ depending on individual differences in personality or temperament. This study examined whether the associations between alcohol popularity norms, family functioning and adolescent alcohol use varied as a function of impulsivity (IM) and sensation seeking (SS). Participants were 1007 Dutch adolescents aged 12-14 (M = 13.51, SD = 0.51) at T1. (Multilevel) structural equation modelling was used to examine interactive effects between environmental factors and IM and SS. Analyses were performed separately for class-level alcohol popularity norms and family functioning. Alcohol popularity norms and family functioning were not associated with alcohol use. IM (B = 1.39, SE = 0.35, p < .001) and SS (B = 1.89, SE = 0.36, p < .001) were associated with alcohol use. The findings point towards IM and SS as general risk-factors for adolescent alcohol use, irrespective of environmental influences. For future research, exploring different measures of peer environment, inclusion of a clinical sample and examination of concurrent measures are recommended.