A Discriminant Analysis of Adolescent Problem Drinking

Abstract

A discriminant analysis was performed on a sample of 1,715 sixth and eighth grade students to determine which children are engaged in the use of alcohol and which sociocultural factors appear to be influencing their decision to drink. Parental drinking patterns, race, sex, and grade level have predictive ability in deciding if a child will become a frequent or heavy drinker. Targeting individuals, who are predicted as being prone to drink heavily, for special counseling may result in better use of counseling resources.