Alcohol-Specific Parenting, Adolescents' Self-Control, and Alcohol Use: A Moderated Mediation Model

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Objective: There is convincing evidence that parental rules about alcohol are important in curbing adolescents' alcohol use. However, little is known about the mechanisms through which the direct link between alcohol-specifi c parenting and alcohol use is obtained. In this study, we investigated the mediating effect of adolescent self-control on the relationship between alcohol-specifi c rules and adolescents' drinking behavior and whether this mediation effect depends on the level of quality of communication. Method: A total of 883 adolescents participated in this longitudinal study at ages 13, 14, and 15 years. Results: Strict rules predicted lower rates of drinking, but no direct effect of the quality of communication on adolescents' alcohol use was found. A higher level of self-control was related to lower rates of drinking in adolescents. The indirect effect of rules about alcohol through adolescents' self-control was statistically signifi cant, yet only in adolescents with high qualitative parent-child communication about alcohol. In adolescents with low quality of parent-child communication, self-control was not related to drinking. Conclusions: These fi ndings imply that strict rule setting in combination with qualitative parent-child communication is an important target for prevention. In addition, fi ndings point at the importance of high qualitative parent-child communication for adolescents' motivation to engage in self-control to avoid drinking. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 75, 16-23, 2014)

Parent–child connectedness and communication in relation to alcohol, tobacco and drug use in adolescence: An integrative review of the literature

“…Adolescents are more likely to display open communication with their parents about general topics when they have high PCC (Luk, Farhat, Iannotti, & Simons-Morton, 2010). Parents are more likely to have the opportunity to have frequent conversations and set rules effectively when PCC is high (Cleveland, Gibbons, Gerrard, Pomery, & Brody, 2005;Guilamo-Ramos et al, 2008;Harakeh, Scholte, Vermulst, de Vries, & Engels, 2010;Koning, Van den Eijnden, & Vollebergh, 2014;Maggi et al, 2014). In Chaplin and colleagues' (Chaplin et al, 2014) observational study adolescents' physiological responses were measured during conversations with parents; when parents displayed behaviours suggestive of low PCC, such as criticism and sarcasm, adolescents tended to display higher cortisol levels, which were indicative of greater feelings of discomfort.…”

“…This model highlights the moderating relationship between parenting behaviours, such as PCC, and communication about substance use. Others have used this model to contextualise their findings, that general and substance use specific parenting practises influence adolescent substance use, suggesting the importance of considering the theoretical foundation of future studies within the context of parenting practises (de Leeuw et al, 2010;Handley & Chassin, 2013;Harakeh et al, 2010;Huver et al, 2006Huver et al, , 2007Koning et al, 2014). Conversations about substance use must be two-sided, involving explanations around the health implications of using substances.…”

“…High quality communication, conversely, is associated with lower rates of smoking, more negative attitudes and higher self-efficacy to refuse cigarette use (de Leeuw et al, 2008;Harakeh et al, 2005Harakeh et al, , 2010Otten et al, 2008;Ringlever, Otten, de Leeuw, & Engels, 2011;; lower rates of alcohol use and higher self-efficacy to refuse (van den Eijnden et al, 2011;Koning et al, 2013;Mares, Lichtwarck-Aschoff, & Engels, 2013;Spijkerman et al, 2008). While Koning et al (2014) found no association between quality of communication and alcohol use, they still promote the use high quality conversations. Three studies found that frequent communication was indirectly protective against alcohol, tobacco and cannabis use, only when combined with high quality communication and high PCC (Cleveland et al, 2005;Huansuriya, Siegel, & Crano, 2014;Huver, Engels, Vermulst, & de Vries, 2007).…”

Gender Differences in the Prediction of Parental Servings of Alcohol to Adolescents and Youth Drunkenness

“…Family management, including having rules about youth drinking, is negatively associated with youth drinking onset, alcohol use (Järvinen & Østergaard, 2009) and binge drinking (Järvinen & Østergaard, 2009;Spijkerman et al, 2008). Furthermore, the use of alcohol-specific rules is related to the postponement of drinking onset among not-yet-drinking adolescents (Van Der Vorst, Engels, Dekovic, Meeus, & Vermulst, 2007;Van der Vorst et al, 2006a) and also to less adolescent drinking (Koning, van den Eijnden, & Vollebergh, 2014a). Also, lenient rules among parents have been found to increase both the risk of drinking onset and the risk of more regular drinking among adolescents (Koning et al, 2010a).…”

Sport participation and its association with social and psychological factors known to predict substance use and abuse among youth: A scoping review of the literature

“…One of the goals of the review was to address the knowledge gap regarding psychological and social pathways that connect sport participation to alcohol and drug use among youth. Results from this review reported that sport was related to increased self-control and self-regulation (Bruner et al, 2011 ; Durlak et al, 2010 ; Gould et al, 2006 ; Johnston et al, 2013 ), factors that other research has found to be robust predictors of reduced alcohol and drug use, including heavy alcohol use (Brody & Ge, 2001 ; Koning, Van den, & Vollebergh, 2014 ; Quinn & Fromme, 2010 ). In addition, quantitative studies within the review found that sport was related to increased self-esteem and mastery along with other indicators of well-being such as decreased depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation (Babiss & Gangwisch, 2009 ; Barber et al, 2001 ; Harrison & Narayan, 2003 ).…”