Parent-Child Perceptions of Parental Behavioral Control Through Rule-Setting for Risky Health Choices During Adolescence

Abstract

This study of 164 parent-child dyads compared perceptions of the rule-setting processes during the child's adolescence surrounding reported rules for the risky health domains of sexual activity, alcohol use, and tobacco use. Two kinds of rules were identified: abstinence rules and contingency rules. Tobacco use was largely dominated by abstinence rules, whereas sexual activity and alcohol featured both abstinence and contingency rules. Parents perceived that they communicated rules more directly and with greater justification than their adolescents reported, especially for abstinence rules. Parents perceived that their adolescents complied with their rules more so than the adolescents reported complying, especially for abstinence rules. Across health domains, perceptions of rule justification and rule sanctioning predicted perceptions of adolescent rule compliance.