This study adds to an emerging literature on the relative importance of family emotional climate for girls [12, 14, 18, 36]. More theoretical work is needed on why some family factors may be differently related to alcohol use by girls versus boys. On the basis of Social Control theory (SCT) [10], adolescents have a default risk of deviance (including alcohol misuse) unless bonds with parents are strong [20]. SCT provides a partial theoretical basis for the result but does not enable a prediction about why bonds may vary in importance between boys and girls. On the basis of Status Characteristics Theory [37] girls may be more or less influenced by gender-salient behaviors depending on the gender-based dynamics of peer groups. Because of their cultural status and the gender-salient nature of alcohol use and misuse, boys are more influential on girls in terms of alcohol consumption than girls are influential on boys. As girls begin to develop mixed-gender peer groups, they may be more vulnerable to alcohol-related socialization by boys than from other girls. Findings from national longitudinal research supports this
