Psychology

Transitional stress influences problem alcohol use and emotion regulation in late adolescence: A mixed-methods study

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Rates of alcohol use peak during the transition from adolescence to young adulthood, a developmental phase that encompasses heightened stress and emotion regulation demands. This mixed methods study examines the influence of a critical developmental transition, high school graduation, on the relationship between problem alcohol use and emotion regulation. High school seniors (N = 117) were surveyed within three months of graduation. Quantitative analyses show that transition stress, but not emotion regulation, predicts alcohol-related problems. Qualitative analyses reveal that adolescent high-risk drinkers engage in a variety of strategies to regulate distress. Implications for adolescent substance misuse prevention programs are discussed.

Publication Title

Journal of Child and Adolescent Substance Abuse

Publication Date

2020

Volume

28

Issue

5

First Page

343

Last Page

354

ISSN

1067-828X

DOI

10.1080/1067828X.2020.1789527

Keywords

adolescence, alcohol-related problems, emotion regulation, stress

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