| Popis: |
Underage drinking is a global concern, including Thailand, due to its negative consequences throughout adulthood. This doctoral study employed a mixed methodological approach, consisting of a quantitative study phase and qualitative phase, to investigate underage drinking phenomenal among early adolescents aged 10 to 14 years in Thailand’s Chonburi province. The quantitative phase involved a cross-sectional study with 9,505 early adolescent participants, conducted between December 2016 to March 2017. The qualitative phase comprised semi-structured interview with 61 early adolescent key informants, conducted in December 2019 to March 2020. The quantitative findings revealed that the current alcohol use prevalence among early adolescent was 10.94%, with 31.01% report previous experience with alcohol consumption. Higher rates of alcohol use were observed among young girls. The average age of alcohol initiation was 11.31 years (SD. 1.82). The factors associated alcohol consumption included age positive attitude towards alcohol use, parental alcohol stocking at home, and exposure to alcohol advertising. Surprisingly, being male acted as a protective factor. The qualitative analysis identified steps transformation process from abstainer to current drinker, which including interest in alcohol, alcohol exposure (intended and non-intended), first sip/drink, self-adjustment, and experience with the taste of alcohol. Attitude and subjective norms were found to have significant influence on underage drinking. Peer pressure, parental alcohol offers, and a lack of self-control to resist alcohol were identified as factor that increase the intending when given the opportunity. Perceiving self-control to resist alcohol consumption was associated with fear of punishment and not wanting to disappoint the parents. The integrate of quantitative and qualitative study revealed that underage drinking predominantly occurs in private contexts with acquaintances. Additionally, five theme were identified in relation to the alcohol drinking phenomenal among early adolescents, including early introduction to sipping alcohol made adolescent open to the possibility of alcohol use, alcohol consumption will probably become normal among girls, underage drinking occurred on private with intimate, drinking among early adolescents was developed from the specific determinants and drinking is becoming normalize and assumed to be a part of adolescent culture. Policymakers are urged to prioritize active monitoring and surveillance campaigns involving young people and stakeholders to effectively prevent underage drinking. Longitudinal studies are recommended to establish causal relationships, while qualitative research is suggested to future explore young people’s perception, drinking culture and gender roles. |
