Problem Behavior Theory and Adolescent Alcohol Use

Authors

Ron D. Hays
Alan W. Stacy, Claremont Graduate UniversityFollow
M. Robin DiMatteo

Document Type

Article

Department

Community and Global Health (CGU)

Publication Date

1987

Disciplines

Community Health | Medicine and Health Sciences | Mental and Social Health | Substance Abuse and Addiction

Abstract

The prevalence of adolescent alcohol use has promoted interest in identifying the factors associated with its use. A comprehensive theory that provides a framework for understanding alcohol use is Jessor and Jessor's Problem Behavior Theory (PBT). We adopted PBT in a study of alcohol use among 226 Catholic high school students. PBT explained 38% of the variation in quantity-frequency of alcohol use and 31% of the variation in problem drinking. The three major systems (personality, perceived environment, behavioral) of the theory were about equally predictive of alcohol use.

Rights Information

© 1987 Elsevier Ltd.

DOI

10.1016/0306-4603(87)90026-8

Recommended Citation

Hays, Ron D., Alan W. Stacy, and M. Robin Matteo. Problem Behavior Theory and Adolescent Alcohol Use. Addictive Behaviors 12.2 (1987): 189-193. doi: 10.1016/0306-4603(87)90026-8