It is critical to note that our study focused on very early adolescent alcohol use, as we were particularly interested in this period of early experimentation, and we did not explore whether childhood internalizing trajectories were associated with alcohol outcomes later in adolescence or early adulthood, where different relationships have been observed. To the extent that alcohol becomes more widely available later in adolescence and beyond, one’s childhood internalizing and potential social problems might present less of a “barrier to entry” later in development. Individuals whose internalizing problems desist might then be able to establish peer relationships, exposing them to opportunities for alcohol experimentation through peer groups. Even those who continue to experience internalizing symptoms during adolescence are still likely to experiment with alcohol (though this experimentation might be delayed relative to peers), at which point their experience with internalizing symptoms might lead to problematic drinking behaviors or expectations (Hussong et al., 2011).
