Binge drinking among adolescents: role of temperament, family environment and peers.

OBJECTIVES

Adolescence is a development stage between childhood and adulthood, which involves the intense physical, mental, and social development of a person. Adolescents are at risk of engaging in risky behaviours, most notably the use of psychoactive substances, including binge drinking. Factors involving family, peers and individual differences may protect this age group from or put them at risk of abusing alcohol. The aim of the study was to describe the relation between temperament, family and peer factors, and the frequency of binge drinking among adolescents.

METHODS

The survey was conducted among 825 students of primary and secondary schools in Szczecin (West Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland), aged 13-16 (13.83 years old, 52.2% boys). The EATQ-R: "The class towards me" (A) and "I towards the class" (B), Family Assessment Scales (SOR) based on FACES IV and an original survey were used in the study.

RESULTS

Statistically significant links were found between the manifested temperament features and the prevalence of adolescent binge drinking. Relevant relations were found between the assessment of family functioning and family behaviour. It was also revealed that the way the leisure time was spent with friends was strongly associated with the prevalence of binge drinking.

CONCLUSIONS

The studied areas indicate existing relationships between the selected variables.