Preparing Parents for Teenagers: A Step in the Prevention of Adolescent Substance Abuse

Correlates of Participation in a Family-Directed Tobacco and Alcohol Prevention Program for Adolescents

“…The participation rates ranged from 3% to nearly 35%. [3][4][5][6] The programs with the lowest participation rates required parent attendance in multiple sessions at central locations, [3][4][5] and the program with the highest participation rate featured booklets mailed to homes. 6 The remaining studies did not provide program participation rates, and we could not calculate the rates because the numbers of families eligible for the program were not reported.…”

Effects of Communication Skills Training on Parents and Young Adolescents From Extreme Family Types

“…Conversely, research has demonstrated that detrimental adolescent outcomes such as delinquency (Clark & Shields, 1997), pregnancy (Jaccard, Dittus, & Gordon, 1996), self-harm (Tulloch, Blizzard, & Pinkus, 1997), rebelliousness (Skinner & Slater, 1995), alcohol and drug experimentation (Norem-Hebeisen, Johnson, Anderson, & Johnson, 1984), and depression and suicide proneness (Stivers, 1988) are linked to communication that is perceived by the adolescent as closed, conflictual, emotional, one-sided, or devoid of certain topics. Training in communication skill was found to be effective for sixthgraders in resisting pressure to try cigarettes, alcohol, and other substances (Grady, Gersick, & Boratynski, 1985). Reflecting the theoretical stance of "bi-directional influences" (Cairns, 1979), training in communication skill should target parents and young adolescents simultaneously.…”

Preparing to Parent the Adolescent

“…They believe the family must respond to the adolescent's search for independence through increasing the flexibility of family boundaries and that the parent-child relationship must shift to permit the adolescent to move in and out of the system. Grady, Gersick. and Boratynski ( 1985) described the parents' role as changing from decision maker to decision maker-facilitator and from intluential authoritarian to consultant.…”

“…can be assisted in developing the type of communication in which members can do the following: (a) experience clear limit setting (adaptability) and emotional bonding (cohesion) (Glynn. 1981) that is perceived as satisfying by parents and early adolescents; (b) express feelings directly and respond empathically to one another (Grady et al. 1985): and (c) replace rigid.…”