Multilevel effects of alcohol among early adolescents in an urban school district.

AIMS

To examine how interpersonal interactions within and between the social networks formed by teachers, parents, students, and others shape the unique culture of the school, which in turn, reciprocally exerts a determining influence on each individual in the network.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study exploring whether factors associated with alcohol use at the individual level also exert influence on the culture of a school.

SETTING

Twelve middle schools within an urban school district in the Midwestern United States.

PARTICIPANTS

Seventh grade students (N = 1,620).

MEASURES

Lifetime alcohol use behaviors; mothers' and fathers' involvement in their child's education; and peer deviance.

FINDINGS

The findings of this study suggest that as parents' involvement in education increases, and as peer deviance decreases, there are direct benefits to the child, and a protective effect for other children within the school when, in the aggregate, parental involvement increases and peer deviance decreases.

CONCLUSIONS

The effect of interventions to improve parent involvement and reduce peer deviance, with examinations at the individual-level and school-level, warrant future study.