“Beer Consumption and Alcohol Abuse Related Problems in Italian Adolescents: Risk and Protective Factors”

Alcohol consumption, above all wine drinking, is deeply rooted in the Italian culture. However, national and European statistics (ISTISAN, 2010; ESPAD, 2011) underline that beer is the preferred and most widespread alcoholic beverage of 16-20 year-olds Italian adolescents. This is consistent with a progressive change in young drinking models, from the traditional “Mediterranean” style (prevalent consumption of wine during meals or on special occasions) to the “Northern” style, (occasional and high consumption of beer and spirits) (Bonino, Cattelino, 2012). Starting from the Problem Behavior Theory proposed by Jessor (Jessor, Donovan, Costa 1991), the present study intends to analyze young beer consumption in the whole of adolescents’ risk behaviors and as part (è meglio in relazione a?) of a complex system that includes variables related to individual values, opinions and feelings and to the peer and family contexts (distinguishing proximal and distal contextual factors). The aims of the study were to investigate: a) different styles of beer consumption (moderate or heavy); b) the relationship among beer abuse, perceptions of physical and psychological risks, negative health and social consequences (problems related to alcohol abuse) and different externalizing and internalizing problems (substances use, risky driving, driving after drinking, antisocial behaviour and depressive feelings); c) protective factors of beer abuse and of its negative consequences (problems related to alcohol abuse and driving after drinking). In particular, individual factors (perceptions of physical and psychological risks) and both proximal (consumption with family and friends, parents’ and friends’ disapproval of alcohol abuse and friends’ alcohol use) and distal (control and support from parents and friends) contextual factors were considered. Gender differences were also investigated. We expected that a prevalent consumption with friends and friends’ model and approval of drinking would be related to a more frequent beer abuse, alcohol abuse problems and driving after drinking. Moreover a protective role of parental support and control was expected. Data was collected through an anonymous self-report questionnaire (Italian version of the Health Behavior Questionnaire of R. Jessor by Bonino et al. 2005). The study involved 861 adolescents, boys (43%) and girls, ages 15 to 18, attending different high schools in Northwestern Italy. Correlations and hierarchical multiple regressions were carried out, respondent age and gender was controlled for, in order to investigate relationships between variables. Main results stressed that: 1) the 9% of adolescents are heavy drinkers (moderate 59%, not drinkers 32%) 2) alcohol abuse and related problems (health and social problems) are strongly correlate each others and both with involvement in externalizing problems behaviour; 3) among proximal contextual factors, beer consumption with friends is the strong predictor for both beer abuse and problems related to alcohol abuse; among distal factors, family variables play a protective role. Specifically, parental support is related to a less beer abuse while good parent-adolescents communication is related to less alcohol abuse problems; parental control is related to both less frequent abuse and driving after drinking. Cultural aspects of adolescents’ beer drinking in Italy and implications for alcohol abuse prevention were discussed.