Dr Amanda Fitzgerald, UCD School of Psychology and co-author of Headstrong’s My World Survey, a National Study of Youth Mental Health, at Alcohol Action Ireland's conference "Time Please... For Change"

1. The My World Survey (MWS):
The Twin Track- Alcohol and mental health in
young people today
Amanda Fitzgerald1 & Barbara Dooley1,2
UCD School of Psychology1
Headstrong- National Centre for Youth Mental Health 2

2. The context
• Drinking is part of the Irish culture
• Research in Europe and the US has found that
alcohol use is beginning in early adolescence,
consumption rates are increasing and
polysubstance use is evident (Newes-Adeyi et al
2005; WHO 2007)
• Alcohol is a particular risk in
adolescence(Strandheim et al 2009)
• Underage and binge drinking have negative
effects on adolescent development and mental
health (Chen et al., 2008)

3. When do mental health issues begin to
emerge?
Victorian Burden of Disease Study (1996 )

4. Aims
• Describe patterns of drinking behaviour across
the second level school cycle
• Determine the associations between drinking
behaviour, as defined by the WHO AUDIT tool,
and mental health indicators
• Investigate the link between alcohol misuse and
suicidal behaviours among young adults

5. Methodology
• Sampling young people from 12-25 years of age in
line with the WHO definition of adolescent and
emerging adulthood
– Second level students 12-18 (N = 6,085)
• Randomly selected schools 72/145 participated (49%)
– Third level students 17-25 N=8,221
• All universities and 5 ITs
– Employed young people 18-25 (N =170)
– Unemployed young people 18-25 (N =154)
– Trainees 18-25 (N = 306)
– Total sample: 14,936

6. The MWS
• Positive Domains
– Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support
(MSPSS)
– Coping Strategy Indicator
– Optimism
– Resilience Scale for Adolescents (READ)
– Self Esteem Scale (RSE)
– Satisfaction with Life Scale
• Negative Domains
– Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)
– Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS)
– Behavioural Adjustment Scale (BAS)
– CRAFFT (risk taking scale)

7. Data from Second Level Sample

8. Data on alcohol frequency and
binge drinking
49% (N=2784) of adolescents never drink alcohol
School % of drinking at % of drinking, at least
year least monthly monthly, 6 or more
drinks in one session
1st year 6% 15%
2nd yr 13% 21%
3rd yr 22% 28%
4th yr 33% (11% weekly) 33%
5th yr 52% (19% weekly) 47% (10% weekly)
6th yr 69% (28% weekly) 57% (16% weekly)

9. Typical drinking volume
• In 3rd yr the most prevalent typical drinking
volume is 1-2 drinks (30%), 3-4 drinks (24%),
5-6 drinks (25%)
• In 4th yr the most prevalent typical drinking
volume is 3-4 drinks (38%), 5-6 drinks (24%)
• In 5th & 6th yr the most prevalent typical drinking
volume is 5-6 drinks (30%), 7-9 drinks (22%),
with 15% of 6th yrs drinking 10+ on a typical
drinking occasion

10. Alcohol behaviour classification
–AUDIT (WHO, 2001)
Classification Junior Cycle Senior Cycle
(1st, 2nd, 3rd (4th, 5th, 6th
year) year)
Low risk 90% 65%
drinking
Problem 6% 26%
drinking
Hazardous 2% 5%
drinking
Possible alcohol 2% 4%
dependence

11. AUDIT recommended cutoffs for
adolescents (Knight et al., 2003;
Santis et al., 2009)
Classification Junior Cycle Senior Cycle
(1st, 2nd, 3rd (4th, 5th, 6th
year) year)
Low risk 78% 33%
drinking
Problem 22% 67%
drinking

12. Alcohol behaviour across school year
• Significant linear trend F(5,5807) =242.37, p < .
001. 6th yrs M=8.55, are in the problem drinking
range and are significantly different from all other
years
• Similar pattern for males and females

13. Alcohol behaviour across age group
• Significant linear trend F(6,14311) =691.67, p
< .001. Similar pattern for males and females

14. Factors associated with use alcohol
use in adolescents
• Chi-square analysis observed :
– Adolescents in the Junior Cycle, classified in
problem drinking category, were more likely to
report severe/very severe depression. This was
also evident for those in the Senior Cycle, but the
association was stronger for Junior Cycle.
– These patterns also emerged for stress and anxiety
– Alcohol behaviour was also linked to self-esteem,
where problem drinking behaviour was associated
with lower self-esteem. This was evident in both
the Junior Cycle, and Senior Cycle

15. Factors associated with use alcohol use
in adolescents
• Alcohol use was linked to positive and
negative factors
– Low levels of alcohol use were associated
with higher optimism, support from family,
life satisfaction and resilience
– Higher rates of alcohol use were
associated with increased risk taking, high
family conflict, feeling angry, school
misconduct and antisocial behaviour

16. Data from Young Adult Sample
(17-25 years)

17. Alcohol misuse and suicidal behaviour
• WHO (2004) – Risk of suicide is 8 times
greater when a person is currently abusing
alcohol than if not abusing alcohol
• Ireland ranked 4th in Europe for suicide rate in
15-24 yr olds (NOSP, 2010)
• Young adults (17-25 yrs) who were identified
as having a possible alcohol dependence
were at increased risk for self-harm, suicidal
thoughts and suicide attempts

18. Conclusions
• Problem alcohol behaviour has clear patterns of
frequency, binge drinking and volume across year
group in second level
• Problem drinking was found to be linked to an
increased risk for mental health difficulties and a
reduction in self-esteem
• Young people at low risk for drinking have better
mental health, engage in more positive coping
strategies and have a more positive outlook on
life
• Need to delay the onset of drinking

19. Thank You!
Email: amanda.fitzgerald@ucd.ie
Link to My World Survey Report
www.headstrong.ie/content/my
world