Sociodemographic, Psychological and Adolescent–related Factors Associated with Alcohol Consumption among School-going Adolescents

Drinking alcohol is a potential addictive behavior causing significant morbidity and mortality that can be prevented in adolescents. Psychological and other significant factors related to adolescent drinking need to be identified to design a more population-specific screening and intervention to prevent alcohol use among adolescents. This study aims to find the prevalence of alcohol consumption and the psychological factors associated with it among school-going adolescents in Terengganu, Malaysia. This cross-sectional study was conducted among 732 school adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years from 12 secondary schools in Terengganu, Malaysia. Cluster sampling was applied to choose the schools and classes were selected by computerized simple random sampling. A validated questionnaire adapted from Global Health School Survey (GSHS) was used and psychological aspects were assessed using the validated Malay version of Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ). Data were analyzed using SPSS ver. 25, using multiple logistic regressions for dependent variable of alcohol drinking. Alcohol consumption was defined as any alcohol beverage intake of more than a few sips. Prevalence of alcohol consumption was 5.2% (95% CI: 3.7, 7.1). Peer problems score was significantly associated with ever drinking of alcohol (p = 0.046, OR: 1.39, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.93); together with other significantly associated factors; namely younger age (p<0.001, OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.31, 0.67), race (p = 0.002, OR: 47.92, CI= 19.42, 118.26), having single parents (p=0.021, OR:4.35, CI=1.25, 15.19)and being with drunk friends (p = 0.001, OR:1.52, CI=1.81, 1.96). The study findings emphasized the significance of peers-related factors with consumption of alcohol among adolescents; either having peer problems or being around drunk friends, other than younger age, race and having divorced or single parent. Screening and intervening via peer problems may be a way to prevent onset of alcohol addiction in adolescents and thus preventing the future morbidity and mortality associated with it.