Characteristics of non-drinking adolescents: a longitudinal Swedish study

ABSTRACT

This study investigated whether non-drinking adolescents (n = 195), with no previous experience with alcohol, differed over time from drinking adolescents (n = 406). Potential differences in psychological health (mental well-being, psychosomatic symptoms, conduct problems), social interaction frequencies (new friends, time spent with friends and social interaction through a screen device), psychoactive substance use, and positive attitudes towards alcohol was investigated. Additionally, the study examined whether these attributes in 9th grade could predict total abstinence two years later. Non-drinkers were consistently characterized by fewer social interactions, less positive attitudes towards alcohol, a lower probability of using other drugs, and fewer conduct problems from 14 to 17 years, which may imply a more introverted personality function. This study contributes insights into predicting factors linked to alcohol abstinence in adolescence, particularly the characteristics of non-drinking adolescents in a society where a declining trend of alcohol consumption is emerging.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol use
• psychoactive substance use
• non-drinking adolescents
• psychological health
• social interactions
• positive attitudes towards alcohol

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the [Alcohol Research Council of the Swedish Alcohol Retailing Monopoly] under Grant [No. 2019-0029]. The LoRDIA programme provided the bulk of funding through a combined grant from four Swedish research foundations: the Swedish Research Council (VR); the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare (FORTE), Sweden’s Innovation Agency (VINNOVA) and the Swedish Research Council Formas [No. 259-2012-25].