Using Cross-National Longitudinal Data to Advocate for Youth Alcohol Policy Changes

Prevention science seeks to identify modifiable factors that can be targeted in international efforts to prevent youth problems and promote positive development. Although differences in national policy and cultural parameters (e.g., family and community norms) impact large populations and contribute to international variation in youth outcomes (such as alcohol problems), they are difficult to evaluate. This paper outlines how internationally matched longitudinal studies are being deliberately designed and analysed to: (1) assess the national effects of developmentally relevant policy and cultural parameters; and (2) cross-nationally compare their effects. We first present a systematic review of studies that have analysed cross-national differences in longitudinal developmental parameters. A total of 23 papers were identified based on cross-nationally matched longitudinal designs. The analyses reported in these papers used a range of techniques including country interactions in regression models and cross-national invariance testing. We next examined to what extent the cross-nationally matched longitudinal papers were cited in policy documents. A case study is provided of how reductions in school-age alcohol use in Australia were predicted by changes in adolescent alcohol supply policies that were introduced with citations to cross-nationally matched longitudinal studies.