Adolescent Behavior: Multiple Levels of Social Influence

Abstract

Adolescence is a critically important time period characterized by identity development and formation, increased autonomy and peer influence, biological changes, and exposure to new environments and behavior. Our knowledge of this key developmental timeframe has blossomed over the previous three decades with the help of well-designed longitudinal studies and an increased understanding of factors relevant to positive and negative development. Studies have revealed that exposure to a range of risk factors is strongly predictive of current and later psychosocial problems. Although not as well understood, we also know that protective factors can buffer or moderate the effect of these risk factors. Indeed, one variable that has consistently been associated with positive development is an attachment to prosocial role models (Yancey, Siegel, & McDaniel, 2002). To that end, the primary focus of this double issue is on the importance and influence of parents and other adults in reducing adolescent risk behavior and promoting positive youth development. Two studies in this issue focus on adolescent substance use, specifically on the role of parents in preventing or contributing to this behavior. In a sample of at-risk adolescents attending alternative high school, Heddy Clark and colleagues sought to determine whether parental monitoring protected against the use of a range of substances over time. Notably, they found that even among this high-risk sample, adolescents with higher parental monitoring at baseline evidenced lower use of alcohol, marijuana, prescription drugs, and other hard drugs relative to their adolescent counterparts with less parental monitoring. The authors also observed reduced substance use 2 years after baseline in those with higher parental monitoring. This study illustrates the critical importance of including parental monitoring as a component in drug prevention programs. The findings are consistent with a growing body of research (Lac & Crano, 2009) and lend credibility to the Parents: The Anti-Drug campaign currently being implemented by the Office of National Drug Control Policy.