Taken together, these results support the study hypotheses. Concerning hypothesis 1, study findings demonstrated that both risk and protective factors were important predictors of the progression of alcohol use disorder within its larger developmental course, and exerted their influence independently and differentially. Concerning hypothesis 2, both risk and protective factors known to influence the development of AD were found to exert their influence at specific stages of progression rather than continuously throughout the developmental period. No predictors influenced all three stages, and the majority of predictors only influenced one stage. Concerning hypothesis 3, personal R/S variables (known to reduce the prevalence of alcohol milestone endorsements) did delay the progression toward AD at specific stages, and risk factors (known to increase the prevalence of alcohol milestone endorsements) were found to accelerate progression toward AD at specific stages (Haber et al., 2012; Sartor et al., 2007). Concerning hypothesis 4, the strongest identified R/S variable (religious attendance; z = −12.45) did have a comparable (or stronger) effect size as the strongest identified risk factor (parental divorce/separation; z = +6.30) in predicting progression in Stage I. Generally, most effect sizes for both risk and protective factors were comparable and of similar and moderate size.
