A qualitative exploration of attitudes towards alcohol, and the role of parents and peers of two alcohol-attitude-based segments of the adolescent population

Abstract

BackgroundAn earlier study using social marketing and audience segmentation distinguished five segments of Dutch adolescents aged 12–18 years based on their attitudes towards alcohol. The present, qualitative study focuses on two of these five segments (‘ordinaries’ and ‘ordinary sobers’) and explores the attitudes of these two segments towards alcohol, and the role of parents and peers in their alcohol use in more detail.MethodsThis qualitative study was conducted in the province of North-Brabant, the Netherlands. With a 28-item questionnaire, segments of adolescents were identified. From the ordinaries and ordinary sobers who were willing to participate in a focus group, 55 adolescents (30 ordinaries and 25 ordinary sobers) were selected and invited to participate. Finally, six focus groups were conducted with 12–17 year olds, i.e., three interviews with 17 ordinaries and three interviews with 20 ordinary sobers at three different high schools.ResultsThe ordinaries thought that drinking alcohol was fun and relaxing. Curiosity was an important factor in starting to drink alcohol. Peer pressure played a role, e.g., it was difficult not to drink when peers were drinking. Most parents advised their child to drink a small amount only. The attitude of ordinary sobers towards alcohol was that drinking alcohol was stupid; moreover, they did not feel the need to drink. Most parents set strict rules and prohibited the use of alcohol before the age of 16.ConclusionsQualitative insight into the attitudes towards alcohol and the role played by parents and peers, revealed differences between ordinaries and ordinary sobers. Based on these differences and on health education theories, starting points for the development of interventions, for both parents and adolescents, are formulated. Important starting points for interventions targeting ordinaries are reducing perceived peer pressure and learning to make one’s own choices. For the ordinary sobers, an important starting point includes enabling them to express to others that they do not feel the need to drink alcohol. Starting points for parents include setting strict rules, restricting alcohol availability at home and monitoring their child’s alcohol use.

Situational Correlates of Adolescent Substance Use: An Improved Test of the Routine Activity Theory of Deviant Behavior

“…Furthermore, policies that focus on adult supervision are recommended, for example in terms of parental monitoring (e.g. Janssen et al 2014). As not all parents might disapprove alcohol and/or drugs use of their children, these policies are best combined with information programs about the negative consequences that are associated with substance use at an early age (e.g.…”

¿Existe relación entre el consumo de alcohol de los padres y el de los adolescentes?

“…Como esperábamos y en concordancia con los datos de otros estudios (Alfonso, Huedo-Medina & Espada, 2009;Ballester & Gil, 2009;Janssen, Mathijssen, van Bon-Martens, Van Oers & Garretsen, 2014) el consumo de alcohol de los padres, así como las actitudes permisivas hacia éste guardan relación con el consumo de alcohol en los adolescentes y con actitudes positivas hacia esta sustancia. Respecto a los resultados referentes a otro tipo de drogas, únicamente hemos encontrado relación entre las actitudes de tolerancia hacia el consumo por parte de los padres y la baja percepción del riesgo adictivo de las mismas.…”

Influencia de la presión de pares y Facebook en actitudes favorecedoras al consumo de drogas ilícitas en jóvenes universitarios mexicanos

“…Existen factores de riesgo que tienen una influencia importante sobre la conducta de los jóvenes, entre los principales está la presión de pares para realizar o no ciertos comportamientos, también se muestra que tener pares consumidores de drogas ilícitas influye en el consumo de jóvenes (Anyio, 2015;Janssen, Mathijssen, Bon-Martens, Oers, & Garretsen, 2014;Varela & Pitchard, 2011) .…”

“…En este sentido, se pueden encontrar estudios que concuerdan con estos hallazgos en los que los pares influyen en las creencias sobre consumo de drogas (Boyle et al, 2016). La literatura también muestra que pares consumidores de alcohol o drogas influyen en el consumo de jóvenes (Anyio, 2015;Janssen et al, 2014;Studer et al, 2016). Los resultados de este estudio ponen de manifiesto que los jóvenes universitarios están influenciados y presionados por sus pares, llegando a afectar a sus actitudes.…”

“…Finalmente se observó un efecto significativo de las actitudes sobre el consumo de drogas; a mayores actitudes que favorecen el consumo de drogas ilícitas, mayor es la probabilidad de consumo. Estos hallazgos concuerdan con la literatura previa (Gutierrez & Romero, 2014;Janssen et al, 2014;Mallou et al, 2013). Estos resultados pueden explicarse ya que en la etapa de la vida universitaria es posible que los jóvenes decidan consumir drogas en la búsqueda de sentirse bien, olvidar sus problemas, divertirse, e incluso sentirse adultos y demostrar su independencia (White et al, 2018).…”