This longitudinal investigation examined motives for alcohol use, alcohol consumption, and alcohol-related consequences in a Vancouver, British Columbia youth sample (n = 405). Secondary analyses were performed on data that were collected at two time points (1995-1996 and 2003-2004). Sociodemographic variables included age, gender, adoption status, parent education, household moves, and family net worth. Bivariate correlations and structural equation modeling were used to examine associations between social, enhancement, and coping motives, alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences. The social motives included drinking to be sociable and drinking to add to the enjoyment of meals. Enhancement motives included drinking to feel good. Coping motives included: drinking to help you relax, drinking to forget worries, and drinking to feel less shy and inhibited. In the final longitudinal structural equation model combining T1 motives and both T1 and T2 alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences, results showed endorsement at T1 of drinking to forget worries was predictive of the alcohol-related consequences latent factor at T1. Moreover, T1 consequences were predictive of alcohol-related consequences at T2. The data show a positive relationship between T1 endorsement of drinking to feel good and the alcohol consumption latent variables at both T1 and T2, but no relationship between drinking to feel good and the alcohol-related consequences emerged. Additionally, the data yielded a negative relationship between the variable, “drink to be sociable” and the alcohol-related consequences latent factor at T1. Certain self-identified motives for drinking may be risk factors for continued alcohol use and subsequent misuse. Therefore, differentiating between specific motives for alcohol use may be a helpful marker for Child and Youth Care workers and other professionals to initiate conversations about alcohol use and consequences. / Graduate

Consuming alcohol may lead to negative consequences, such as aggression, violence or drunkdriving. However, not all adolescents who consume alcohol engage in negative behaviors.The purpose of this study was to examine the role of gender and impulsivity as risk factors forengagement in negative conducts after alcohol intoxication. The sample of this studycomprised 1,002 Swedish adolescent students between 12 and 16 years of age (52% boys). Students filled in self-report questionnaire at two time points (T1 and T2), once a year. Aftercontrolling for previous levels of negative consequences of alcohol consumption, as well asfor drinking habits at T1, the result showed that impulsivity had an impact on adolescent’salcohol-related consequences after intoxication. Also, boys showed a higher tendency toreport negative consequences after alcohol intoxication compared to girls. All in all, thislongitudinal study shed new light on the personality aspects that make adolescents more likelyto engage in negative conducts after alcohol consumption.

The present dissertation aims at analysing the effects of recent alcohol policy changes. The traditional strict policy in Sweden had focused on high pricing and limited availability to control levels of alcohol consumed and thus alcohol-related harms. However, increased travellers’ allowances meant larger availability of cheaper alcohol when importing from Denmark and Germany, which are the countries from which Swedes obtain most of their private imports; the tax decrease in Denmark further decreased the price. As the economic literature links demand to price of a commodity and the early (smaller) quota changes had resulted in higher consumption in southern Sweden, it was expected that these latest changes would mean higher consumption and more alcohol-related problems in this area in particular. Some groups were additionally expected to be more affected than others. The present compilation thesis comprises four related articles and an introductory chapter that ties them together. Article I focuses on private imports in relation to quota changes 2002 – 2004 and relate this to purchase at the alcohol monopoly stores. Self-reported consumption and alcohol-related problems are studied in Article II and IV. In Article III, register data on alcohol-related harms, i.e. hospitalizations and police-recorded crimes, are analysed. The results of the dissertation were puzzling, since there was no large increase in consumption or alcohol-related problems in the south, but increases in the north during the period. However, private imports and cases of hospitalization due to alcohol poisoning were found to have increased in the south. Thus, the results imply that these policy changes had an effect on private imports, but that this effect was not large enough to increase total consumption as well. Additionally, increased alcohol poisoning cases implied that there had been an impact among high consumers. The increases found in consumption and problems in the north may instead have other explanations. / <p>At the time of the doctoral defense, the following papers were unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 2: In press. Paper 2: Submitted. Paper 3: Submitted.</p>

abstract: Past literature has indicated that the majority of people with alcohol problems never seek treatment and that this is especially true of women. Relatively few studies have investigated how different types of alcohol-related consequences longitudinally predict men and women's perceived need for treatment and their utilization of treatment services. The current study sought to expand the literature by examining whether gender moderates the links between four frequently endorsed types of consequences and perceived need for or actual utilization of treatment. Two-hundred thirty-seven adults ages 21-36 completed a battery of questionnaires at two time points five years apart. Results indicated that there were four broad types of consequences endorsed by both men and women. Multiple-group models and Wald chi square tests indicated that there were no significant relationships between consequences and treatment outcomes. No gender moderation was found but post-hoc power analyses indicated that the study was underpowered to detect moderation. Researchers need to continue to study factors that predict utilization of alcohol treatment services and the process of recovery so that treatment providers can better address the needs of people with alcohol-related consequences in the areas of referral procedures, clinical assessment, and treatment service provision and planning. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Psychology 2013