Several expected covariate effects were observed. For example, early alcohol and other substance involvement at age 11 was associated positively with subsequent adolescent alcohol use and adverse consequences, as well as with young adult problem drinking (Guo et al., 2000; Hingson et al., 2006; Mason et al., 2010). Interestingly, whereas early depressed mood was a negative predictor of alcohol use at age 16, it was a positive predictor of increased drinking from age 16 to age 18. Because alcohol use typically is a social activity among youth, it is possible that young adolescents who struggle with the symptoms of depression (e.g., inactivity, anhedonia) experience reduced risk for alcohol involvement in middle adolescence. Nevertheless, among those who do drink, depressed mood may lead to increased alcohol use over time, possibly as an attempt to cope with depressive symptomatology. These findings warrant further investigation.
