The natural history of risky drinking and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood: Findings from the Australian Temperament Project

© 2017 Cambridge University Press. Background We aimed to describe the natural history of heavy episodic drinking (HED) and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood in a large Australian population cohort study. Method The Australian Temperament Project consists of mothers and babies (4-...

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Main Authors: Betts, K., Alati, Rosa, Baker, P., Letcher, P., Hutchinson, D., Youssef, G., Olsson, C.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Cambridge University Press 2018
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/72855
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author Betts, K.
Alati, Rosa
Baker, P.
Letcher, P.
Hutchinson, D.
Youssef, G.
Olsson, C.
author_facet Betts, K.
Alati, Rosa
Baker, P.
Letcher, P.
Hutchinson, D.
Youssef, G.
Olsson, C.
author_sort Betts, K.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description © 2017 Cambridge University Press. Background We aimed to describe the natural history of heavy episodic drinking (HED) and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood in a large Australian population cohort study. Method The Australian Temperament Project consists of mothers and babies (4-8 months) recruited from Infant Welfare Centres and followed every 2 to 4 years until age 28 years. Analyses were based on data from 1156 young people (497 male; 659 female) surveyed repeatedly at ages 16, 18, 20, 24 and 28 years. We used dual processes latent class growth analysis to estimate trajectories of HED and associated harms, employing a piecewise approach to model the hypothesized rise and subsequent fall across adolescence and the late twenties, respectively. Results We identified four sex-specific trajectories and observed little evidence of maturing-out across the twenties. In males, a normative pattern of increasing HED across the twenties with little related harm was observed (40% of the male sample). Early and late starter groups that peaked in harms at age 20 years with only minor attenuation in binging thereafter were also observed (6.1% and 35%, respectively). In females, a normative pattern of increasing, but moderate, HED with little related harm was observed (44% of the female sample). Early and late starter groups were also identified (18% and 17%, respectively); however, unlike males, the female late starter group showed a pattern of increasing HED and related harms. Conclusions Continued patterns of risky alcohol use and related harms are apparent for both males and females across the twenties.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-728552018-12-13T09:33:49Z The natural history of risky drinking and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood: Findings from the Australian Temperament Project Betts, K. Alati, Rosa Baker, P. Letcher, P. Hutchinson, D. Youssef, G. Olsson, C. © 2017 Cambridge University Press. Background We aimed to describe the natural history of heavy episodic drinking (HED) and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood in a large Australian population cohort study. Method The Australian Temperament Project consists of mothers and babies (4-8 months) recruited from Infant Welfare Centres and followed every 2 to 4 years until age 28 years. Analyses were based on data from 1156 young people (497 male; 659 female) surveyed repeatedly at ages 16, 18, 20, 24 and 28 years. We used dual processes latent class growth analysis to estimate trajectories of HED and associated harms, employing a piecewise approach to model the hypothesized rise and subsequent fall across adolescence and the late twenties, respectively. Results We identified four sex-specific trajectories and observed little evidence of maturing-out across the twenties. In males, a normative pattern of increasing HED across the twenties with little related harm was observed (40% of the male sample). Early and late starter groups that peaked in harms at age 20 years with only minor attenuation in binging thereafter were also observed (6.1% and 35%, respectively). In females, a normative pattern of increasing, but moderate, HED with little related harm was observed (44% of the female sample). Early and late starter groups were also identified (18% and 17%, respectively); however, unlike males, the female late starter group showed a pattern of increasing HED and related harms. Conclusions Continued patterns of risky alcohol use and related harms are apparent for both males and females across the twenties. 2018 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/72855 10.1017/S0033291717000654 Cambridge University Press restricted
spellingShingle Betts, K.
Alati, Rosa
Baker, P.
Letcher, P.
Hutchinson, D.
Youssef, G.
Olsson, C.
The natural history of risky drinking and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood: Findings from the Australian Temperament Project
title The natural history of risky drinking and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood: Findings from the Australian Temperament Project
title_full The natural history of risky drinking and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood: Findings from the Australian Temperament Project
title_fullStr The natural history of risky drinking and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood: Findings from the Australian Temperament Project
title_full_unstemmed The natural history of risky drinking and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood: Findings from the Australian Temperament Project
title_short The natural history of risky drinking and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood: Findings from the Australian Temperament Project
title_sort natural history of risky drinking and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood: findings from the australian temperament project
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/72855