Date of Award
8-22-2025
Date Published
September 2025
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Psychology
Advisor(s)
Aesoon Park
Keywords
Alcohol use milestones;education level;emerging adulthood;sex
Subject Categories
Clinical Psychology | Psychology | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
Emerging adults report the highest rates of alcohol use, with drinking patterns varying by sex and education level. Few studies have explored how these factors relate to the attainment and progression of alcohol use milestones. The current study addresses this gap by examining the associations between sex, education level and alcohol use milestone progression and attainment in emerging adults. Secondary data analyses were conducted using National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III) data (N = 36,309, Mage = 45.63 [SD = 17.53], female = 56%, 53% White, 21% Black, 19% Hispanic and 2% Multiracial). Ordinal regressions indicated males had higher odds of milestone attainment than females (OR = 1.49, 95% CI [ -.13, .94]), while individuals in the lowest education level had significantly lower odds of attaining milestones than those with higher education (OR = 0.59, 95% CI [-.85, -.19]). Survival analyses revealed significant main effects of study variables. Males progressed more quickly than females to initiation and first intoxication (TR = 1.03 and 1.02), and females reached first 5+ drink episode earlier than males (TR = 0.91). Compared to the lowest education group, college graduates reached initiation and first 5+ episode earlier (TR = 1.03 and 1.04), and individuals with some graduate education reached first 5+ drink episode earlier (TR = 1.06). Results suggest complex risk patterns by sex and education level across alcohol milestones, underscoring the need for prevention efforts tailored to developmental stage and demographic risk factors to reduce alcohol related harms in emerging adulthood. Key Words: Alcohol use milestones, emerging adulthood, education level, sex
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Cabot, Elisabeth P., "ROLES OF SEX AND EDUCATION LEVEL WITH ALCOHOL USE MILESTONE ATTAINMENT AND PROGRESSION" (2025). Theses - ALL. 983.
https://surface.syr.edu/thesis/983
