Biological Maturation in Adolescence and the Development of Drinking Habits and Alcohol Abuse Among Young Males: A Prospective Longitudinal Study

• NCJ Number: 124590
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 19 Issue: 1 Dated: (February 1990) Pages: 33-41
• Author(s): T Andersson; D Magnusson
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 9 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: Bank of Sweden Tercentary Foundation; Swedish Council for Planning and Coordination of Research
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

In the present study, the relationship between biological maturation (skeletal growth) in adolescence and the development of drinking habits and alcohol abuse were studied for a representative group of Swedish males.

Abstract

The results showed that early maturers and late maturers had more advanced drinking habits at age 14 as compared to their normally maturing same-aged peers (p less than .05). This difference was not significant 1 and one half years later. In young adulthood more than one third (36 percent) of the late maturers were registered for alcohol abuse as compared to 14 percent of the normal maturers and eight percent of the early maturers (p equals .12). The relevance of psychosocial factors as mediating the relationship between biology and actual behavior was discussed. It was emphasized that differences in biological and psychosocial maturity should be taken into consideration when studying adolescent behavior, both in cross-sectional and in longitudinal perspectives. 30 references. (Author abstract)