An examination of adolescent coping typologies and young adult alcohol use in a high-risk sample

• Published in: Vulnerable children and youth studies 2010-04, Vol.5 (1), p.52-65
• Main Authors: Ohannessian, Christine McCauley, Bradley, Juliet, Waninger, Kendra, Ruddy, Kyrianna, Hepp, Bethany Willis, Hesselbrock, Victor
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescence; Adolescents; Alcohol Abuse; Alcohol use; At risk youth; Child development; Cluster analysis; COAs; Coping; Drinking Behavior; Drug addiction; Gender; Humor; Opposite Sex Relations; Sex; Social Support; Studies; Typology; Young adults
• ISSN: 1745-0128; 1745-0136
• DOI: 10.1080/17450120903012925

The primary purpose of this study was to explore whether coping typologies during adolescence predict alcohol use and abuse during early adulthood. The roles played by paternal substance dependence and gender in this relationship also were examined. The sample included 240 15-19-year-old adolescents and their fathers, all of whom were followed-up five years later. Results from K-means cluster analyses revealed four coping clusters. Cluster 1 individuals primarily used religion, planning and social support strategies to cope. Cluster 2 individuals tended to use humor, planning and social support to cope. Cluster 3 individuals were most likely to use denial, behavioral disengagement and substance use when coping with a problem. Cluster 4 individuals employed the fewest coping strategies. Multiple analyses of variance (manova) results indicated that Cluster 2 individuals drank the most frequently. Cluster 3 individuals reported the highest alcohol consumption, whereas Cluster 1 individuals reported the lowest alcohol consumption. Results from this study underscore the usefulness of examining coping typologies in relation to alcohol use and abuse.