Citation

Holtes M, Bannink R, Joosten-van Zwanenburg E, van As E, Raat H, Broeren S. J. Sch. Health 2015; 85(12): 852-860.

Affiliation

Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, University Medical Centre Rotterdam, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. s.broeren@erasmusmc.nl.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, American School Health Association, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/josh.12341

PMID

26522174

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study examined associations of truancy, perceived school performance, and mental health with adolescents' week, weekend, and binge drinking.

METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1167 secondary school students of Dutch ethnicity (mean age, 15.9 years, SD = 0.69). Alcohol consumption, truancy, perceived school performance, and mental health status were assessed with self-report questionnaires. Ordinal regression analyses were performed to assess the associations.

RESULTS: Truancy (odds ratio [OR] = 2.53; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.70-3.77) and poorer mental health (OR = 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.07) were associated with binge drinking more often. Truancy (OR = 1.89; 95% CI, 1.14-3.16) and poorer mental health (OR = 1.06; 95% CI, 1.02-1.09) were also associated with drinking (more) alcohol on week days. Furthermore, truancy (OR = 2.60; 95% CI, 1.76-3.83) and having an average (OR = 1.81; 95% CI, 1.19-2.77) or less than average (OR = 3.65; 95% CI, 1.93-6.90) perceived school performance were associated with drinking (more) alcohol on the weekend.

CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study suggest that adolescents who are truant and/or have a poor mental health status are at increased risk of binge and week drinking. Furthermore, adolescents who are truant and/or have an average or less than average perceived school performance are at increased risk of weekend drinking.

Keywords: Juvenile justice

Language: en