What should parents do to emphasise their disapproval of adolescents’ substance use?

Abstract

Abstract Background Previous research has shown that one of the strongest predictor of smoking and alcohol consumption in early adolescence is perceived parental approval of such behaviour. The aim of the present study is to explore which parenting practices predict the probability of perceiving parental disapproval of smoking and alcohol consumption in adolescence. Methods A representative sample of 1133 early adolescents (mean age = 12.9, SD 0.77) filled in questionnaires including sociodemographic characteristics (3 items), perceived parental risk behaviour (alcohol consumption at least once a week, drunkenness once a month and daily smoking); substance specific conversations with parents (1 item); both emotional and controlling aspects of parenting (6 items), and perceived parental disapproval of adolescents’ smoking and alcohol consumption as dependent variables. Logistic regression was used to analyse the data. Results The most important predictor of perceived parental disapproval of alcohol use was behavioural control (setting rules) (OR 2.34), followed by parental non-drinking (OR 1.81) and alcohol specific communication (OR 1.28). Regarding smoking disapproval, the significant predictors were parental non-smoking (OR 1.92); behavioural control (OR 1.79); time spent with a child (OR 1.44) and lower psychological control (guild induction, pressuring, manipulation) (OR 0.69). Conclusions Decreasing adolescents’ substance use via increasing their perceived parental disapproval of such behaviour seems to be substance specific. The most salient strategy both for smoking and drinking seems to be the use of behavioural control characterized by clear rules setting and lack of parental own substance use. Key messages Decreasing adolescents’ substance use via increasing their perceived parental disapproval of such behaviour seems to be substance specific. The most salient strategy to increase perceived parental disapproval of smoking and alcohol consumption seems to be the use of behavioural control characterized by clear rules setting.