Mechanisms Underlying Associations between Media Alcohol Exposure, Parenting, and Early Adolescent Drinking: A Moderated Sequential Mediation Model.

Abstract

Exposure to alcohol content in the media, especially in movies, is a demonstrated risk factor for adolescent alcohol use. This paper examines processes underlying this association and whether parenting mitigates such harms. A mediational model of parental restriction of mature media (W1), alcohol content exposure (W2), alcohol expectancies, peer norms (W3), and alcohol outcomes (W4) was tested using annual assessments from a study of adolescent drinking (N = 879; 52% female; 21% Non-White; 12% Hispanic). When restrictions are not in place, adolescents report greater exposure to alcohol content, leading to higher perceived peer drinking. Parental monitoring did not buffer the link between exposure and peer norms. Parental media restriction and perceptions about peers comprise mechanisms by which alcohol-saturated media influences youth drinking.