Adolescent boys’ grooming product use and perceived health risks: An exploration of parental influence

Abstract

Objective: To investigate parental influence on adolescent boys’ use and risk-perceptions of using appearance-related products. Design: Using appearance-enhancing products can present a health threat to adolescents, as these products are not only applied to the body, but can also be ingested. Adolescents may look to their parents for information about products, or they may make inferences based on observing their parents’ appearance management behaviours. Setting: The results of this research suggest future studies to assist in developing intervention strategies to guide parents in promoting healthy appearance management for their sons. Method: The data were collected from 155 adolescent boys in the United States (US). Their ages ranged from 11-18 years, with an average age of 14.3 years. The frequencies of product use and risk-perceptions were compared using a Chi-square test, based on the sum of the parental influence scales. Results: Adolescent boys used a variety of appearance-related products, and their risk-perceptions coincided with their frequency of product use. Parental normative influence was significant for acne treatment, diet pills, and fragrance/body-spray products, although parental informative influence was not significantly related to product use. Parental influence was not related to their perceptions of the relative healthfulness of the same products. Conclusion: Parental influence is either directed toward encouraging or discouraging product use, rather than educating adolescents on the healthfulness of these products.