Objective: To study the relationships between depressive and psychosomatic symptoms at the age of 12 years and heavy use of alcohol 3 years later, and to determine whether certain depressive symptoms are more predictive than others in regard to later heavy alcohol use.
Methods: The Children's Depression Inventory (CDI) with added questions concerning psychosomatic symptoms and bullying was used to reveal psychiatric symptoms among children at the age of 12 years. Information concerning alcohol use was obtained from the children at the age of 15 years.
Results: Disordered mood at the age of 12 years was not related to heavy alcohol use at the age of 15 years. Perceiving oneself as failing to perform well at school and low self-esteem at the age of 12 years were related to heavy use of alcohol 3 years later among girls, as were interpersonal problems with aggressive tendencies among boys.
Conclusions: Further studies are urgently needed to determine the relationships between the expectations of the school system and deviant behaviors such as substance use among dysphoric children.