Factors Associated with Attitude Toward Alcohol Use of Sixth and Eighth Grade Students

The purpose of the researcher was to investigate factors affecting attitude toward use of alcohol of 6th and 8th grade students. There were 68 students in the sixth grade (41 males and 27 females) and 60 students in the eighth grade (31 males and 29 females) surveyed. The following independent variables were investigated: grade placement, gender, community, perceived peer attitude, perceived parental attitude, and knowledge of alcohol. The dependent variable was the individual\u27s attitude toward use of alcohol score from the Alcohol Attitude Questionnaire. Five composite null hypotheses were tested at the .05 level of significance. A three-way analysis of variance was employed for all composite null hypotheses. Twenty comparisons plus 15 recurring comparisons were made. Six of the comparisons were for main effect and 14 were for interactions. Of the six main effects two were statistically significant. The significant main effects were perceived parental attitude and perceived peer attitude. The results of the present study indicated the perceived attitudes toward use of alcohol of peers and parents were significant factors associated with attitudes of 6th and 8th grade students toward alcohol. The results of the present study appeared to support the following generalizations: 1. Perceived peer attitude was positively associated with the individual\u27s attitude toward alcohol use. 2. Perceived parental attitude was positively associated with the individual\u27s attitude toward alcohol use. 3. Gender and grade in school were not associated with the individual\u27s attitude toward alcohol use. 4. No association was found between community and the individual\u27s attitude toward alcohol use. 5. Knowledge about alcohol was not associated with the individual\u27s attitude toward alcohol use