Abstract
BackgroundParental support (PS) and parental monitoring (PM) are known protective factors against adolescent substance use (SU). However, little is known about whether PS and PM may affect SU outcomes differently by gender and age. This study examined the relationship between PS and PM and adolescent SU, specifically alcohol and tobacco use, stratified by gender and age group.MethodsMiddle and high school students (n = 2351, 48.5% Female) completed surveys of self-reported SU, perceived PS and PM, and socioeconomic background. Age group was defined dichotomously as grade 7–8 Middle school and grade 9–10 High school students. PS and PM were each measured using previously validated tools. SU was measured by lifetime and past 30 days cigarette/alcohol use. One-way ANOVA and binary logistic regression models were completed. Odds ratios and means were reported.ResultsPS and PM were significantly and negatively related to all outcome variables regardless of gender and age group. Mean differences in PS and PM were insignificant between age groups. Between genders, PM scores were significantly higher for girls (14.05) compared to boys (13.48) (p < 0.01). Odds Ratios of all four SU types (for alcohol and tobacco use) increased with higher age group, with ORs ranging from 1.45–2.61 (p < .05).ConclusionsPS and PM were protective against SU for all participants, consistent with previous literature. Girls reported greater parental monitoring than boys, irrespective of age-group. While girls experienced higher levels of monitoring, they did not report lower SU than boys. This suggests that monitoring girls more closely than boys appears unnecessary in preventing adolescent SU. Finally, PS was a more significant factor in preventing SU for older adolescents (high school aged group) than for younger adolescents, irrespective of gender suggesting that PS may be more impactful and important as adolescents age. As children mature, particularly from middle school to high school, PS may play a larger role in preventing SU for older adolescents compared to younger ones.
Highlights
Parental support and monitoring have emerged as two important tools in efforts to reduce adolescent substance use and abuse [1,2,3,4,5]
Parental monitoring scores within the same age group were 13.48 (SD = 2.56) for boys and 14.05 (SD = 2.24) for girls which is significant at the 95% level [F(1,1147) = 16.08, p < .01]
Conclusions and future directions This study reinforces the value of parental support and monitoring as effective strategies that help prevent and reduce adolescent substance use and abuse
Summary
Parental support and monitoring have emerged as two important tools in efforts to reduce adolescent substance use and abuse [1,2,3,4,5]. This study examines the associations between parental support, parental monitoring, and adolescent substance use and whether these associations differ by gender and age group among middle and high school students. Findings may provide new evidence about how to best use parental support and monitoring to prevent adolescent use of substances in order to reduce the risk of misuse, abuse or addiction in the future. Previous research on parental support and monitoring have provided clear definitions of each concept, presented examples of effective target behaviors, and identified some general benefits of these tools when they are used to prevent adolescent substance use and abuse. This study examined the relationship between PS and PM and adolescent SU, alcohol and tobacco use, stratified by gender and age group
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
