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Association Between Perceived Parent Attitudes and Teen Cannabis and Alcohol Use
Emily Nields1, Machiko Minegishi2, Melissa Brogna2
1Division of Addiction Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts.
Summary
Parental messages matter for teen substance use. Neutral or conflicting attitudes from parents significantly increase the likelihood of adolescent alcohol and cannabis use, similar to parental approval.
Area of Science:
- Adolescent Health
- Substance Use Research
- Parent-Child Communication
Background:
- Parental attitudes play a crucial role in shaping adolescent behavior.
- Understanding the nuances of parental messaging regarding substance use is vital for prevention efforts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between adolescent substance use and parental communication regarding alcohol and cannabis.
- To determine if neutral or conflicting parental messages impact teen substance use differently than explicit approval or disapproval.
Main Methods:
- A secondary analysis was conducted on data from middle and high school students.
- Multivariable generalized linear mixed-effect logit models were used to examine self-reported past-year alcohol/cannabis use and parental attitudes.
Main Results:
- Most students (over 78%) reported parental disapproval of alcohol and cannabis use.
- Adolescents reporting neutral or conflicting parental attitudes were significantly more likely to report past-year alcohol (aOR=3.35) or cannabis (aOR=4.23) use.
- No significant difference in substance use was found between teens reporting parental approval versus those reporting disagreement or neutral stances.
Conclusions:
- Parental attitudes that are neutral or conflicting regarding teen substance use have a substantial impact on adolescent behavior.
- These findings suggest that ambiguous parental messaging may be as influential as direct approval in promoting teen substance use.
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