Download this article now for $15.00.
The Moderating Role of Risk-Taking Tendency and Refusal Assertiveness on Social Influences in Alcohol Use among Inner-City Adolescents
Jennifer A. Epstein, Gilbert J. Botvin
Objective: Many etiological models of adolescent alcohol use concentrate on the main effects of risk and protective factors. This study examined the moderating influence of risk-taking tendency and refusal assertiveness on perceived friends’ drinking as associated with alcohol use among inner-city adolescents. Method: Participants (N = 2,400; 54% female) completed questionnaires that included measures of risk-taking tendency, refusal assertiveness, perceived friends’ drinking and alcohol use (drinking frequency, drinking amount and drunkenness). Results: Main effects for perceived friends’ drinking, risk-taking tendency and refusal assertiveness were found for all three drinking measures, consistent with prior work. Furthermore, significant interactions were found between (1) risk-taking tendency and perceived friends’ drinking and (2) refusal assertiveness and perceived friends’ drinking. Conclusions: High risk-taking tendency and low refusal assertiveness increased the impact of perceived friends’ drinking on alcohol use among inner-city adolescents. This suggests that these factors are important components in preventing alcohol use. (J. Stud. Alcohol 63: 456-459, 2002)
