We observed both similarities and differences between males and females in the pathways mediating early temperamental styles and adolescent alcohol outcomes. The pathway by which conduct and emotional difficulties and alcohol problems were mediated was identical in boys and girls—via reduced conscientiousness and decreased emotional stability (with an inverse relationship with extraversion also observed in both sexes). The association between sociability and consumption/problems also showed parallel mediating variables between the genders; both sexes showed mediation through sensation-seeking and extraversion. These findings are consistent with previous studies that have concluded that risk factors for substance use in girls and boys are often remarkably similar (Costello et al., 1999; Zucker, 2008). However, some notable differences were also observed: boys showed additional mediation between sociability and consumption/problems through friendship characteristics that was not present in girls, and girls showed mediation through reduced conscientiousness and lower emotional stability that was not associated with sociability in boys. Both temperamental styles showed mediation through reduced emotional stability in girls. This supports previous literature suggesting that girls in particular may be more prone to adopt problematic alcohol
