Developmental changes and progression of adolescent alcohol use and rule-breaking behavior: Estimating subgroups of alcohol use predicting rule-breaking behavior.

Abstract

Prior literature has explored the developmental trajectories and the comorbidity of adolescent alcohol use and rule-breaking behavior; however, there are several limitations of the current literature. First, little evidence exists that tested the longitudinal trajectories of both alcohol use and rule-breaking behavior while controlling for the shared effects of physical aggression, exposure to family violence, and demographic variables (e.g., gender and race). Second, limited studies have tested the longitudinal effects of baseline and growth of alcohol use on baseline and growth of rule-breaking behavior. Third, scant studies have estimated the developmental categories of alcohol use (e.g., LL: low baseline alcohol use and low growth rate; LH: low baseline alcohol use and high growth rate; HL: high baseline alcohol use and low growth rate; HH: high baseline alcohol use and high growth rate) on rule-breaking longitudinally. Therefore, the present study utilized a sample of 1,872 adolescents to address these limitations in the literature. Results indicated that while alcohol use progressed across four-time points, rule-breaking behavior did not. Furthermore, the baseline and growth rate of alcohol use positively predicted the baseline and the growth rate of rule-breaking behavior. Finally, adolescents who were classified within the high baseline and high growth subgroup were more likely to engage in rule-breaking longitudinally. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).