Influence and Bias Factors on Female Adolescent Alcohol Use

Abstract

This study tested multiple hypotheses related to the influence of certain factors on female adolescent alcohol use. Demographic information, academic stress levels, and parental monitoring behaviors were examined. Peer alcohol use, peer non-alcohol specific risk behavior, and perception of peer alcohol use were also measured. One sample (n=184) was collected and used in analyses. Results from this data collection provided evidence that the demographic variable of age, the variable of peer alcohol use, and the variable of perception of peer alcohol use all influence an individual’s alcohol use. The perception of peer alcohol was shown to influence both drinkers and non-drinkers alike, in that those that drink alcohol had the perception that their friends were drinkers, too, and those that did not drink alcohol had the perception that their friends were non-drinkers, as well.