RISK-FACTORS RELATED TO URBAN YOUTH STAGE OF ALCOHOL INITIATION

The purpose of this study was to examine the :role of risk/protective factors based on three Behavioral theories in explaining the stages of alcohol initiation. Subjects included 211 sixth-grade students from a n inner city middle school who completed the Youth Alcohol & Drug Surv ey. A range of risk/protective factor constructs, particularly those a ssociated with Social Learning Theory and the Health Belie Model, were found to be related to the stages of alcohol initiation. Results sugg est that the use of risk/protective factor status categories holds pro mise as a method for identifying youth who might benefit from tailored prevention content.