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
Repository Citation
Cabrera, Korine B. and Palm Reed, Kathleen M., "Transitional stress influences problem alcohol use and emotion regulation in late adolescence: A mixed-methods study" (2020). Psychology. 578.
https://commons.clarku.edu/faculty_psychology/578