Multidimensional social control variables as predictors of drunkenness among French adolescents.

BACKGROUND Previous studies of the determinants of drunkenness among youth investigated the contribution of a limited range of variables measuring social control. For the first time in France, this study including 1295 participants aged 14-19 years aimed at assessing the relative contribution of a broad range of multidimensional variables relating to social control such as parental and school functioning, conventional and religious beliefs, and activity level, in a single model predicting self-reported drunkenness episodes. METHODS A logistic regression model based on a survey involving nearly 50 measures selected at the first step was conducted using a backward elimination procedure to identify the significant predictors of drunken experience controlling for age, gender and SES among a sample of French adolescents. RESULTS We found a protective effect of attachment and commitment to institutions in drunkenness experience among youth. Previous findings on parental variables were confirmed with qualifications, whereas the effect of religion was limited. The negative role of sport practice and impulsivity was also emphasized for some participants.