Skip to main content
Log in

Factors that impact adolescents' intentions to utilize alcohol-related prevention services

  • Brief Reports
  • Published:
The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current study is the first to examine factors that may be associated with middle school students' intentions to use alcohol-related prevention services. Youth (N=1506; 46% male; 11–14 years old) completed surveys on their intentions to use alcohol-related services, beliefs about services, previous use of services, and substance use. Students who reported stronger positive beliefs reported greater intentions to use services. Girls, younger students, and whites also reported stronger interest in using services than boys, older students, and youth of mixed ethnicity, respectively. Adolescents who reported current use of substances were less willing to use prevention services. Current research highlights the importance of creating prevention services for this age group that are developmentally relevant and that focus on features that will attract youth, such as utilizing an interactive discussion format. Beginning to understand what motivates adolescents to seek help can facilitate the creation of better prevention programs.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Grant BF. The impact of family history of alcoholism on the relationship between age of onset of alcohol use and DSM-IV alcohol dependence.Alcohol Health & Research World. 1998;22:144–147.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. CDC surveillance summaries.MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1998;47(SS-3).

    Google Scholar 

  3. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. National academies report to congress released. Available at: http://www.alcoholfreechildren.org/en/news/articles.cfm?id=2619: 2003 Accessed January 5, 2004.

  4. Johnson SD, Stiffman A, Hadley-Ives E, et al. An analysis of stressors and co-morbid mental health problems that contribute to youths' paths to substance-specific services.Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. 2001;4:412–426.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Smart RG, Stoduto G. Treatment experiences and need for treatment among students with serious alcohol and drug problems.Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse. 1997;7:63–72.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Harford TC, Hsiao-ye Y, Hough JF. Alcohol use disorders and alcohol treatment utilization among adolescents ages 12–17.Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2004;28:81A.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Andersen RM. Revisiting the behavioral model and access to medical care: does it matter?Journal of Health & Social Behavior. 1995;36:1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Goodwin R, Andersen RM. Use of the behavioral model of health care use to identify correlates of use of treatment for panic attacks in the community.Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology. 2002;37:212–219.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Cauce AM, Paradise M, Domenech-Rodriguez M, et al. Cultural and contextual influences in mental health help seeking: a focus on ethnic minority youth.Journal of Consulting & Clinical Psychology. 2002;70:44–55.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kataoka SH, Zhang L, Wells KB. Unmet need for mental health care among U.S. children: variation by ethnicity and insurance status.American Journal of Psychiatry. 2002;159:1548–1555.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Pumariega AJ, Glover S, Holzer CE, et al. Utilization of mental health services in a tri-ethnic sample of adolescents.Community Mental Health Journal. 1998;34:145–156.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Ciarrochi J, Wilson CJ, Deane FP, et al. Do difficulties with emotions inhibit help-seeking in adolescence? The role of age and emotional competence in predicting help-seeking intentions.Counselling Psychology Quarterly. 2003;16:103–120.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Carlton PA, Deane FP. Impact of attitudes and suicidal ideation on adolescents' intentions to seek professional psychological help.Journal of Adolescence. 2000;23:35–45.

    Google Scholar 

  14. D'Amico EJ, McCarthy DM, Metrik J, et al. Alcohol-related services: Prevention, secondary intervention, and treatment preferences of adolescents.Journal of Child & Adolescent Substance Abuse. 2004;14:61–80.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Eccles J, Midgley C, Wigfield A, et al. Development during adolescence: the impact of stage-environment fit on young adolescents' experiences in schools and families.American Psychologist. 1993;48:90–101.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Dubow EF, Lovko KRJ, Kausch DF. Demographic differences in adolescents' health concerns and perceptions of helping agents.Journal of Clinical Child Psychology. 1990;19:44–54.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Aten MJ, Siegel DM, Roghmann KJ. Use of health services by urban youth: a school-based survey to assess differences by grade level, gender, and risk behavior.Journal of Adolescent Health. 1996;19:258–266.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Schonert-Reichl KA, Muller JR. Correlates of help-seeking in adolescence.Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 1996;25:705–731.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Windle M, Miller-Tutzauer C, Barnes GM, et al. Adolescent perceptions of help-seeking resources for substance abuse.Child Development. 1991;62:179–189.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Wu P, Hoven CW, Tiet Q, et al. Factors associated with adolescent utilization of alcohol treatment services.American Journal of Drug & Alcohol Abuse. 2002;28:353–369.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Jaycox LH, Morral AR, Juvonen J. Mental health and medical problems and service use among adolescent substance users.Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 2003;42:1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Rice DP, Conell C, Weisner C, et al. Alcohol drinking patterns and medical care use in an HMO setting.Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research. 2000;27:3–16.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kim JYS, Fendrich M. Gender differences in juvenile arrestees' drug use, self-reported dependence, and perceived need for treatment.Psychiatric Services. 2002;53:70–75.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Grant BF. Barriers to alcoholism treatment: reasons for not seeking treatment in a general population sample.Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 1997;58:365–371.

    Google Scholar 

  25. D'Amico EJ, Metrik J, McCarthy DM, et al. Progression into and out of binge drinking among high school students.Psychology of Addictive Behaviors. 2001;15:341–349.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Sobell LC, Sobell MB, Toneatto T, et al. What triggers the resolution of alcohol problems without treatment?Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 1993;17:217–224.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Stiffman AR, Elze D, Hadley-Ives E, et al. Youth and provider perspectives on social service providers' roles in mental health services.Journal of Social Service Research. 1999;25:83–97.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Narrow WE, Reiger DA, Rae DS, et al. Use of services by persons with mental and addictive disorders: findings from the National Institute of Mental Health epidemiologic catchment area program.Archives of General Psychiatry. 1993;50:95–107.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Ginsburg KR, Slap GB, Cnann A, et al. Adolescents' perceptions of factors affecting their decisions to seek health care.Journal of the American Medical Association. 1995;273:1913–1918.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Johnston LD, O'Malley PM, Bachman JG.Monitoring the Future National Survey Results on Drug Use, 1975–2000. Secondary School Students. Vol 1. Bethesda, Md: National Institute on Drug Abuse; 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Brown SA, Myers MG, Lippke LF, et al. Psychometric validation of the customary drinking and drug use record (CDDR): a measure of adolescent alcohol and drug involvement.Journal of Studies on Alcohol. 1998;59:427–439.

    Google Scholar 

  32. D'Amico EJ, Ellickson PL, Wagner EF, et al. Developmental considerations for substance use interventions from middle school through college.Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2005;29:474–483.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Brown SA. Facilitating change for adolescent alcohol problems: a multiple options approach. In: Wagner EF, Waldron HB, eds.Innovations in Adolescent Substance Abuse Intervention. Oxford: Elsevier Science; 2001:169–187.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Little RJA. Regression with missing X's: a review.Journal of the American Statistical Association. 1992;87:1227–1237.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Hilton ME. Barriers to alcoholism treatment: self-reports from NESARC.Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research. 2004;28:163A.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Monti PM, Colby SM, Barnett NP, et al. Brief intervention for harm reduction with alcohol-positive older adolescents in a hospital emergency department.Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 1999;67:989–994.

    Google Scholar 

  37. D'Amico EJ, Fromme K. Brief prevention for adolescent risk-taking behavior.Addiction. 2002;97:563–574.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Ajzen I. Nature and operation of attitudes.Annual Review of Psychology. 2000;52:27–58.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Miller WR, Westerberg VS, Waldron HB. Evaluating alcohol problems in adults and adolescents. In: Hester RK, Miller WR, eds.Handbook of Alcoholism Treatment Approaches: Effective Alternatives. 2nd ed. Needham Heights, Mass: Allyn & Bacon; 1995:61–68.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Simons-Morton BG, Haynie DL, Crump AD, et al. Peer and parent influence on smoking and drinking among early adolescents.Health Education & Behavior. 2001;1:95–107.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Lonigan CJ, Elbert JC, Johnson SB. Empirically supported psychosocial interventions for children: an overview.Journal of Clinical Child Psychology. 1998;27:138–145.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Brown SA, D'Amico EJ. Outcomes of alcohol treatment for adolescents. In: Galanter M, ed.Recent Developments in Alcoholism: Vol XVI: Selected Treatment Topics, Vol XVI. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum; 2003:289–312.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Gottfredson DC, Wilson DB. Characteristics of effective school-based substance abuse prevention.Prevention Science. 2003;4:27–38.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Elizabeth J. D'Amico PhD.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

D'Amico, E.J. Factors that impact adolescents' intentions to utilize alcohol-related prevention services. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research 32, 332–340 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291832

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291832

Keywords

Navigation