Psychosocial factors associated with alcohol use among young adolescent American Indians and whites

Empirical analyses comparing the precursors of adolescent alcohol use between American Indian and white adolescents are rare. This cross-sectional study compares psychosocial factors associated with past-year and heavy alcohol use among 6th and 8th grade white (N = 2226; 2203) and American Indian (N = 105; 98) students. Differential associations of 10 intraindividual, interpersonal, and social environmental risk factors and alcohol use among American Indians and whites were compared. Risk factors for past-year alcohol use and heavy drinking were largely similar between American Indians and whites. Alcohol use may begin earlier in American Indian adolescents suggesting that prevention efforts to delay onset may need to begin earlier for this population.