Cohort comparisons: Social learning explanations for alcohol use among adolescents and older adults

Some researchers have suggested that theories of delinquency are appropriate to the study of deviant behavior among older adults. This study compares the relative effects of social learning variables on alcohol use and abuse by adolescents and older adults. Two sub-samples–aged 12–17 (N = 17709) and aged 65 and older (N = 2019)–were created from the 2002 National Household Survey of Drug Use and Health, a national probability sample of persons aged 12 and older in the United States. Data show that the frequency of alcohol use for adolescents is positively associated with personal approval of daily alcohol use and the number of peers who get drunk at least once a week, while older adult frequency is positively associated with personal approval of daily alcohol use and number of peers who use alcohol. Alcohol abuse by adolescents is correlated with personal approval of daily alcohol use, the number of peers who drink alcohol, and the number of peers who get drunk at least once a week. Among the older adult sub-sample only personal approval of daily alcohol use and number of peers who use alcohol is significantly associated with abuse. These findings provide evidence for the merits of applying social learning variables to understanding deviance among diverse age cohorts.