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The natural history of risky drinking and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood: findings from the Australian Temperament Project

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 September 2017

K. S. Betts ,
R. Alati ,
P. Baker ,
P. Letcher ,
D. Hutchinson ,
G. Youssef  and
C. A. Olsson
K. S. Betts*
Affiliation:
The University of Queensland, School of Population Health, Herston, QLD, Australia
R. Alati
Affiliation:
The University of Queensland, School of Population Health, Herston, QLD, Australia
P. Baker
Affiliation:
The University of Queensland, School of Population Health, Herston, QLD, Australia
P. Letcher
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
D. Hutchinson
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development School of Psychology, VIC, Australia Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Centre for Adolescent Health, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
G. Youssef
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development School of Psychology, VIC, Australia Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Centre for Adolescent Health, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
C. A. Olsson
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Centre for Social and Early Emotional Development School of Psychology, VIC, Australia Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Centre for Adolescent Health, The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
*
*Address for correspondence K. S. Betts, Ph.D., Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, Cycad Building, Long Pocket Precinct, 4072, QLD, Australia. (Email: k.betts@uq.edu.au)
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Abstract

Background

We aimed to describe the natural history of heavy episodic drinking (HED) and associated harms from adolescence to young adulthood in a large Australian population cohort study.

Method

The Australian Temperament Project consists of mothers and babies (4–8 months) recruited from Infant Welfare Centres and followed every 2 to 4 years until age 28 years. Analyses were based on data from 1156 young people (497 male; 659 female) surveyed repeatedly at ages 16, 18, 20, 24 and 28 years. We used dual processes latent class growth analysis to estimate trajectories of HED and associated harms, employing a piecewise approach to model the hypothesized rise and subsequent fall across adolescence and the late twenties, respectively.

Results

We identified four sex-specific trajectories and observed little evidence of maturing-out across the twenties. In males, a normative pattern of increasing HED across the twenties with little related harm was observed (40% of the male sample). Early and late starter groups that peaked in harms at age 20 years with only minor attenuation in binging thereafter were also observed (6.1% and 35%, respectively). In females, a normative pattern of increasing, but moderate, HED with little related harm was observed (44% of the female sample). Early and late starter groups were also identified (18% and 17%, respectively); however, unlike males, the female late starter group showed a pattern of increasing HED and related harms.

Conclusions

Continued patterns of risky alcohol use and related harms are apparent for both males and females across the twenties.

Keywords

Adolescencealcohol-related harmsheavy episodic drinkingmaturing outyoung adulthood
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 48 , Issue 1 , January 2018 , pp. 23 - 32
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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