Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate gender differences in adolescents' alcohol use, adverse consequences of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use and the effectiveness of selected risk factors in mediating gender differences.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey design was adopted. Data were collected from a sample of high school students (n=919) in one midwestern community. Four criteria for examining potential mediated relationships were addressed.
Results: Expected differences in relation to males' higher levels of frequent and heavy drinking, adverse consequences of AOD use and risk factors were found. All risk factors were significantly related to adverse consequences, but alienation was not related to drinking behavior. In a one-way ANOVA, the main effects of gender were significant for both drinking behavior and adverse consequences of AOD use. In a two-way ANOVA, the main effects of a risk factor index reduced the main effects of gender substantially.
Conclusions: Controlling risk factor levels mediates gender differences in the outcomes, drinking behavior and adverse consequences of AOD use.