The impact parenting behaviors have on recent alcohol use and binge drinking among adolescents based on age

Abstract

Adolescent alcohol use is a persistent problem in the United States. Despite numerous prevention efforts, alcohol still remains the most commonly used substance among youth. The primary aim of this study was to determine the impact parenting behaviors have on adolescent recent alcohol use and binge drinking among youth aged 12–13 years, 14–15 years, and 16–17 years. For the study purpose, recent alcohol use was defined as drinking alcohol in the past 30 days and binge drinking was defined as consuming five or more alcoholic beverages in a row on the same occasion in the past 30 days of taking the survey. A secondary data analysis of the 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health was conducted and included a national sample of 17,399 adolescents. To determine the impact parenting behaviors have on adolescent alcohol use at the varying age ranges, logistic regression analyses were performed. All statistically significant results were retained and subsequent logistic regression analyses were completed to examine the effect parenting behaviors have on past month alcohol use and past month binge drinking for each age group. Results revealed that 13.3% of youth drank alcohol in the past month, and 7.5% of youth binge drank alcohol in the past month. Results indicated a lack of positive parenting behaviors increased the odds of youth reporting recent alcohol use and binge drinking across all ages. Of all age groups, the youngest youth (12–13 years old) had the highest risk of alcohol use and binge drinking after assessing the lack of positive parenting behaviors followed by 14–15-year olds and 16–17-year olds. Three specific parenting practices were found to influence youths’ alcohol use, especially among younger youth. Recommendations for future studies are included.