TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2013//
TI  - Perceived norms moderate the association between mental health symptoms and drinking outcomes among at-risk adolescents
JO  - Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs
A1  - Pedersen, Eric R.
A1  - Miles, Jeremy N. V.
A1  - Hunter, Sarah B.
A1  - Osilla, Karen Chan
A1  - Ewing, Brett A.
A1  - D'Amico, Elizabeth J.
SP  - 736
EP  - 745
VL  - 74
IS  - 5
N2  - OBJECTIVE: There has been limited research examining the association between mental health symptoms, perceived peer alcohol norms, and alcohol use and consequences among samples of adolescents. The current study used a sample of 193 at-risk youths with a first-time alcohol and/or other drug offense in the California Teen Court system to explore the moderating role of perceived peer alcohol norms on the association between mental health symptoms and drinking outcomes. METHOD: Measures of drinking, consequences, mental health symptoms, and perceived peer alcohol norms were taken at baseline, with measures of drinking and consequences assessed again 6 months later. Regression analyses examined the association of perceived norms and mental health symptoms with concurrent and future drinking and consequences. RESULTS: We found that higher perceived drinking peer norms were associated with heavy drinking behavior at baseline and with negative alcohol consequences both at baseline and 6 months later. Also, perceived drinking norms moderated the association between mental health symptoms and alcohol-related consequences such that better mental health was related to increased risk for alcohol-related consequences both concurrently and 6 months later among those with higher baseline perceptions of peer drinking norms. CONCLUSIONS: Findings demonstrate the value of norms-based interventions, especially among adolescents with few mental health problems who are at risk for heavy drinking. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 74, 736-745,2013).<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1937-1888
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -