Protective Predictors of Alcohol Use Trajectories Among Canadian Aboriginal Youth

Some Aboriginal youth are at disproportionate risk of using substances and developing abuse and dependence disorders. However,
not all Aboriginal youth misuse substances and limited research has examined the protective factors conferring against substance
use among these youth. The present study aimed to identify protective factors related to the alcohol use trajectories from
early adolescence to emerging adulthood among off-reserve Canadian Aboriginal youth. Participants (N = 330; 50.3% male) aged 12–23 were selected from cycles 2–7 of Statistics Canada’s NLSCY. Multilevel modeling was employed
to identify protective factors for two constructs of alcohol use. Participation in weekly activities and optimism were found
to be protective for both the frequency of alcohol use and heavy drinking trajectories. Attendance of religious services was
also found to be protective for heavy drinking behaviors. In contrast, positive peer relationships were a risk factor for
frequency of alcohol use, but not heavy drinking. The results provide preliminary evidence of important developmental factors
to integrate into substance use intervention programs targeting Aboriginal youth.