Gender, age, emotion and stress management: a mediation analysis of binge drinking among adolescents

Binge drinking is a common behavior during adolescence that may lead to brain and emotional changes, increasing vulnerability to addiction. Sex, gender, and age differences influence these impacts and are essential factors in prevention strategies. This study aimed to estimate the direct and indirect effects of gender and age on binge drinking mediated by emotion and stress management. A total of 644 students aged 14–18 years from southeastern Brazil participated in this study. The instruments included a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Test de Habilidades para la Vida, and the AUDIT-C. Structural equation modeling was used and showed a good model fit. Results showed that better emotion and stress management reduced the likelihood of binge drinking by 21%, whereas age increased it by 22%. Gender indirectly influenced binge drinking through emotional management, decreasing the likelihood of binge drinking by approximately 8%.