Adolescent temperament and parental alcohol provision predict adolescent hazardous alcohol use

There is a lack of research studying how adolescents' temperament affects parents' inclination to offer alcohol and how it affects hazardous alcohol consumption. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of an adolescent's temperament in both the likelihood of being offered alcohol by their parents and the subsequent consequences on adolescent alcohol use. The study, part of the Longitudinal Research on Development In Adolescence (LoRDIA) program, followed adolescents aged 13 to 17. The analytical sample consisted of n  = 1363 at T1, mean age 13.63 (0.62) years, 52.1% girls, and n  = 775 at T2, mean age 16.93 (0.44) years, 55.6% girls. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) was used to examine the outcome variables of at-risk alcohol use and indications of alcohol dependence. Temperament profiles were derived from the Junior Temperament and Character Inventory (J-TCI). Adolescents with temperament profiles of sociable thrill-seekers , detached and fearless and unstable , among other things characterized by high levels of novelty seeking, had an increased probability of being offered alcohol by parents. Parental alcohol provision increased the risk of both at-risk use and indication of alcohol dependence. The study emphasizes the need to further inform parents not to offer alcohol, as it increases hazardous alcohol consumption. For adolescents high in novelty-seeking, this awareness is crucial.