Based on earlier studies that showed a relationship between self-concept disturbances and alcohol use in young adults with alcohol dependence (Corte & Stein, 2003) and alcohol misuse in high-risk adolescents (Corte, Fitzgerald & Zucker, 2004; Corte & Stein, 2005), we examined relationships between structural properties of the self-concept and two known risk factors for alcohol problems (high antisociality and parental alcohol problems) in an inner city community sample of preadolescents (9-12 years). We hypothesized that children with high antisociality and parental alcohol problems would have an impoverished self-concept--one comprised of few positive and many negative self-definitions. Twenty-eight predominantly minority (64% Black, 32% Hispanic, 4% White) children (mean age=10.4+1.2 years) were given the Children of Alcoholics Screening Test-6 (Hodgins et al.1993), the Antisocial Behavior Checklist for Youth (Zucker & Fitzgerald, 1996), and the Alcohol Use & Misuse scale (Shope et al., 1993). Positive and negative self-definitions were measured using the number of positive or negative items endorsed as “really true for me” from the Harter Self-Perception Profile for Children (Harter, 1985). Thirty-nine percent of the sample had parental alcohol problems, and as predicted, they endorsed fewer positive self-definitions (10.5 vs 16.1) and more negative self-definitions (9.2 vs 4.0) than children without parental alcohol problems, ts>2.3, ps<.03. Interestingly, antisociality was correlated in the opposite of predicted directions with positive (r=.32) and negative (r=-.22) self-definitions. Eleven percent (n=3) of the children reported prior alcohol use. Prior alcohol use was not correlated with parental alcohol problems (r=-.15), but was strongly positively correlated with antisociality (r=.67). These findings raise interesting questions about how antisociality and parental alcohol problems may influence the development of an impoverished self-concept and contribute to early alcohol use and misuse. Longitudinal work is planned to address these important questions and guide the development of interventions. Funded by UIC College of Nursing
Session #1300 - Alcohol & Tobacco Use: Focus on Special Populations
The 30th Annual MNRS Research Conference