Protective Factors Buffer Effects of Risk Factors on Alcohol Use Among Inner-City Youth

• NCJ Number: 195526
• Journal: Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: 2001 Pages: 77-90
• Author(s): Jennifer A. Epstein; Gilbert J. Botvin; Kenneth W. Griffin; Tracy Diaz
• Date Published: 2001
• Length: 14 pages
• Grant Number(s): P50DA7656
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study evaluated the buffering effect of cumulative protection on adolescent alcohol use in the presence of high and moderate cumulative risk.

Abstract

A sample of 4,851 adolescents in 7th grade from 37 inner-city schools participated in this study. Students with high scores on the cumulative risk factor index engaged in more alcohol use compared to those with low scores; those with high scores on the cumulative protective factor index engaged in less alcohol use relative to those with low scores. For participants at low risk, level of protection did not affect most measures of alcohol use. For both moderate and high risk groups, adolescents with high protection engaged in less alcohol use than those with low protection. In general, this study supports a cumulative risk factor approach in which the focus is on the number of risk and protective factors. These findings, according to the study, suggest that comprehensive alcohol use prevention programs for youth should focus on enhancing a variety of protective factors in addition to reducing risk. Table, references