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Article de Périodique
Is 'age at first drink' a useful concept in alcohol research and prevention? We doubt that [For debate] (2016)
Auteur(s) :
KUNTSCHE, E. ;
ROSSOW, I. ;
ENGELS, R. ;
KUNTSCHE, S.
Année
2016
Page(s) :
957-965
Sous-type de document :
Revue de la littérature / Literature review
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Domaine :
Alcool / Alcohol
Discipline :
EPI (Epidémiologie / Epidemiology)
Note générale :
Commentaries:
- Don't throw away the champagne with the cork - age at first drink revisited. Windle M., p. 966-967.
- Usefulness of AFD concept: limitations to overcome. von Diemen L., Kessler F.H.P., p. 967-968.
- The usefulness of 'age at first drink' as a concept in alcohol research and prevention. Hingson R., Zha W., White A., p. 968-970.
- Should we revisit the 'Age at First Drink' concept in alcohol research? Alati R., p. 970-971.
- The blind men and the elephant - Response to commentaries. Kuntsche E., Rossow I., Engels R., Kuntsche S., p. 971-972.
- Don't throw away the champagne with the cork - age at first drink revisited. Windle M., p. 966-967.
- Usefulness of AFD concept: limitations to overcome. von Diemen L., Kessler F.H.P., p. 967-968.
- The usefulness of 'age at first drink' as a concept in alcohol research and prevention. Hingson R., Zha W., White A., p. 968-970.
- Should we revisit the 'Age at First Drink' concept in alcohol research? Alati R., p. 970-971.
- The blind men and the elephant - Response to commentaries. Kuntsche E., Rossow I., Engels R., Kuntsche S., p. 971-972.
Résumé :
Aim: To address and discuss the weaknesses of age at first drink (AFD) as a concept in alcohol research and prevention.
Methods: Narrative literature review.
Results: Varying from one sip to the consumption of several full drinks, and sometimes including the specification of particular conditions (e.g. without parental consent), no exact definition and operationalization of AFD was found. Evidence reveals poor test–retest reliability when the same individuals report their AFD two or more times. Theoretical arguments and empirical evidence fail to explain why having one sip or one drink earlier than peers should cause heavier drinking and related problems later in life. Alternative explanations such as self-selection, third variable effects and systematic report bias are not considered in most studies. These shortcomings also make AFD unsuitable as an indicator or marker of underlying problems such as conduct problems and academic failure. Together with unjustified causal inferences, this has led to an over-emphasis on the relevance of postponing AFD as a way to prevent problems later in life.
Conclusion: We argue in favour of shifting the focus of alcohol research and prevention away from AFD towards a better understanding of the progression from infrequent, low-quantity drinking to more detrimental drinking patterns and the prevention of associated acute and short-term harm.
Methods: Narrative literature review.
Results: Varying from one sip to the consumption of several full drinks, and sometimes including the specification of particular conditions (e.g. without parental consent), no exact definition and operationalization of AFD was found. Evidence reveals poor test–retest reliability when the same individuals report their AFD two or more times. Theoretical arguments and empirical evidence fail to explain why having one sip or one drink earlier than peers should cause heavier drinking and related problems later in life. Alternative explanations such as self-selection, third variable effects and systematic report bias are not considered in most studies. These shortcomings also make AFD unsuitable as an indicator or marker of underlying problems such as conduct problems and academic failure. Together with unjustified causal inferences, this has led to an over-emphasis on the relevance of postponing AFD as a way to prevent problems later in life.
Conclusion: We argue in favour of shifting the focus of alcohol research and prevention away from AFD towards a better understanding of the progression from infrequent, low-quantity drinking to more detrimental drinking patterns and the prevention of associated acute and short-term harm.
Affiliation :
Addiction Switzerland, Research Institute, Lausanne, Switzerland
Cote :
Abonnement