Average consumption (liter 100% alcohol) among boys and girls
in grade 9 (app. age 15). 1989-2010
Boys
Girls
6
5
4
3
b
2
1
0
1989
1991
1993
1995
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
www.can
.se
Becoming adult in an alcohol culture: A mixed
method study of prevention discourses, alcohol
consumption and ascribed meanings of alcohol
and intoxication among adolescents
Presentation at the Nordic Alcohol and Drug Researchers’ Assembly, the
MischMasch network, Reykjavik, Iceland, on the 23-25th of August, 2010
Josefin Bernhardson & Johan Svensson
Centre for Social Research on Alcohol and Drugs (SoRAD)
Contact: josefin.bernhardson@sorad.su.se or johan.svensson@sorad.su.se
Aim
-
Investigate teenage drinking in relation to common
assumptions and messages about teenage drinking,
e.g., in prevention programs directed towards
adolescents
-
Combine survey data with data from focus group
interviews
-
Focus on the concept “peer pressure”
Data and methods 1
Quantitative data
Child- level of living survey conducted in 2000, n=
1,304, age 10-18 (resp. rate 85.3%). In this
study age 14-18 n=703
Alcohol measurement:
one question on alcohol, frequency of
consumption during the last 6 months.
Data and methods 2
Qualitative
Focus groups interviews with girls age 15,
nine groups (n=56)
- Thematic analysis
- Self reflexivity and memory work
Peer pressure?
Preliminary results/analysis
Quantitative material
Table 1. Sociability and proportion of girls and boys reporting regular consumption %.
Indicators of sociability
Number of friends
High (three or more)
Low (less than three)
Popularity among class peers
More popular
As popular as others
Less popular
Regular consumption %
(Some time a month or more frequent)
Girls
Boys
Total
*
*
ns
43.4
45.1
41.8
34.7
31.2
39.5
*
46.9
38.0
33.3
***
55.4
32.4
28.6
ns
38.5
43.3
40.0
Unpopular among class peers (no one
wants to be with you)
Non- popular
Non non-popular
ns
Ns
ns
38.5
41.5
39.6
40.9
37.7
42.0
Having a boyfriend or girlfriend
Yes
No
***
59.5
35.2
***
59.6
33.7
***
59.4
36.6
Statistical significance test Chi-square, ns=not significant, *=p<0.05, **=p<0.01, ***=p<0.001
Preliminary results/analysis
Qualitative material
Themes from the interviews:
-Teenage drinking vs. adult drinking:
- Having fun: Friends, sex and intimate relations
- The “other” sex: Nice girls and stupid boys.
Peer pressure?
Discussions
•
Do you thing peer pressure is a useful concept to analyze?
•
In what ways can our mixed method approach / combination of methods
be productive and in what ways can it be problematic? Regarding e.g.,
epistemological differences, writings traditions, focuses, skills, etc?
•
Are there practical aspects to consider that might hinder work with a
mixed method procedure? More time consuming, more data to handle and
analyse, more knowledge/methodological skills required from the researcher?