The role of individual and relational characteristics on alcohol consumption among Italian adolescents: a discriminant function analysis

The aim of the present study was to explore the association between family functioning, coping strategies, peer influences and alcohol use among Italian adolescents. Nine hundred and sixty-three Italian adolescents, aged from 14 to 17 years, completed self-report measures assessing alcohol use, family functioning, and coping strategies. According to previous research, adolescents were categorized into non-drinkers, social, binge and heavy drinkers. Results showed that adolescents belonging to groups characterized by alcohol misuse differ in terms of coping strategies, family functioning dimensions, and typology of friends. In particular, heavy drinkers appeared to have more friends who drink alcohol on a regular basis and they were younger when started to drink on a regular basis than other drinking groups. Moreover, discriminant function analysis shows that avoidant coping strategies, early age of drinking, great number of friends who regularly drink alcohol and family dysfunctions are significant in the differentiation of drinking groups, separating heavy drinkers from others categories of drinker