Parent–student communication regarding alcohol use: an examination of tacit approval

Abstract

Background: First-year college students appear to be at particular risk for experiencing negative alcohol-related consequences. This risk has fostered a need to identify malleable factors associated with first-year student alcohol consumption. Studies have shown significant positive associations between perceived parental approval of drinking and alcohol use and associated consequences. However, researchers have not yet identified the exact mechanism responsible for this relationship.Objectives: This study examined a potential vehicle by which parents may communicate approval of drinking to their college aged children. Specifically, we tested if less parent communication about alcohol use would be perceived as tacit approval on the part of first-year college students.Methods: Two hundred seventy-nine first-year undergraduate students age 18–20 answered online surveys of perceived parental approval of drinking, negative alcohol-related consequences, perceived parental knowledge, and parent–student communication regarding alcohol use.Results: Contrary to hypothesis, our findings indicate the amount of parent–student communication regarding alcohol use did not predict perceived parental approval of drinking in first-year students, after controlling for the influence of gender, perceived parental knowledge, and negative consequences of alcohol use.Conclusions: Results suggest that first-year college students may not interpret less parent–student communication regarding alcohol as tacit approval of drinking.