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Published on: December 14, 2014
Parenting style, religiosity, peers, and adolescent heavy drinking
Stephen J Bahr1, John P Hoffmann
1Department of Sociology, Joseph F. Smith Building, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah 84602, USA. stephen_bahr@byu.edu
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
|June 18, 2010
Summary
Authoritative parenting is linked to lower rates of adolescent heavy drinking. This style, characterized by high monitoring and support, may protect teens even when their friends drink alcohol.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Developmental Psychology
- Substance Use Research
Background:
- Parenting styles significantly influence adolescent development and behavior.
- Understanding factors that mitigate adolescent alcohol use is crucial for public health.
- Previous research has explored various influences on adolescent drinking, but the specific role of parenting styles requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between four parenting styles (authoritative, authoritarian, indulgent, neglectful) and adolescent alcohol use and heavy drinking.
- To control for confounding variables such as peer alcohol use and religiosity.
Main Methods:
- Structural equation modeling was employed to analyze data from 4,983 adolescents in Grades 7-12.
- The study estimated direct and indirect effects of parenting styles on alcohol consumption patterns.
Main Results:
- Authoritative parenting was associated with a reduced likelihood of heavy drinking among adolescents compared to other styles.
- Adolescents with authoritative parents were less likely to report friends who used alcohol.
- Religiosity demonstrated a negative association with heavy drinking, independent of other factors.
Conclusions:
- Authoritative parenting exhibits both direct and indirect protective effects against adolescent heavy drinking.
- High levels of parental monitoring and support, characteristic of authoritative parenting, may deter heavy alcohol use.
- Peer selection appears to be a significant intervening variable, mediating the relationship between authoritative parenting and reduced heavy drinking.
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