Low Levels Of Parental Monitoring Research Articles

Family Factors and Adolescent Problem Drinking in a High-Risk Urban Peruvian Neighborhood

ABSTRACTBackground: Family relationships are widely recognized as playing a role in adolescent alcohol use. Although family relationships and parenting vary by culture, limited research has explored these relationships in Latin America. Objectives: We sought to determine which family factors are associated with adolescent alcohol use in Callao, Peru. Methods: Data come from a cross-sectional survey conducted in a public secondary school in Callao, Peru in 2007. A total of 180 11th grade students are included in the analysis. Our main outcome measure was problem drinking, defined as self-report of having ever consumed beer, wine, spirits, or hard alcohol to a point of drunkenness. Logistic regression was used to determine if odds of problem drinking varied by level of parental monitoring (knowledge of activities and whereabouts), positive family relationships, or family conflict, while controlling for demographic and peer variables. Results: Low levels of parental monitoring and low levels of positive family relationships were each associated with significantly higher odds of lifetime problem drinking in analyses adjusted for deviant peer affiliation along with sociodemographic variables (odds ratio (OR) = 4.2; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.3–13.5; OR = 4.4; 95% CI: 1.5–13.0, respectively). Although family conflict was associated with elevated odds of lifetime problem drinking, this did not reach significance (adjusted OR = 2.01; 95% CI: 0.8–5.1). Conclusions/Importance: Interventions designed to prevent adolescent alcohol use in urban Peru may benefit from promoting positive family interactions and parental monitoring skills.

Social context, family process, and Turkish boys’ pathway to incarceration: an application of the age-graded theory of informal social control

ABSTRACTAlthough the juvenile delinquency problem in Turkey has become increasingly visible in the last decade, existing research on Turkish youth convicted of delinquency is still in its early stages. The purpose of this study was to apply the age-graded theory of informal social control that was developed by Sampson and Laub to the Turkish context, and to explore the role of family processes that lead young men to prison. Data are from in-depth interviews with 30 convicted juveniles in a juvenile prison. Data analysis highlighted the negative effects of specific family processes such as youth’s lack of attachment to their parents, which may result from harsh or erratic methods of discipline, and low levels of parental monitoring. The findings suggest that it is essential to implement family-oriented interventions to prevent and control serious delinquency.

Family, Peer, and Pubertal Determinants of Dating Involvement Among Adolescents.

This study examines the influence of family, peer, and biological contributors to dating involvement among early adolescents (11-14years of age; n=244). Further, we assess how parental monitoring may be modified by pubertal maturation and older sibling risky behavior. Data on delinquent peer affiliation, pubertal maturation, parental monitoring, older sibling risky behavior, and dating involvement were gathered through observations and surveys from adolescents, mothers, older siblings, and teachers. Results indicate that lower levels of parental monitoring and higher levels of older sibling risky behavior were related to adolescents' dating involvement through delinquent peer affiliation. Pubertal maturation was directly related to dating involvement for early daters. Findings emphasize the value of examining social and biological factors, in concert, over time.

Perceived discrimination, parenting, and academic adjustment among racial/ethnic minority adolescents

The present study examined the extent to which perceived racial/ethnic discrimination at school was directly and indirectly (via parenting practices) related to academic adjustment among racial and ethnic minority adolescents. Participants (58% female) were 208 minority students (63% African American, 19% Latino, 18% Multiracial) in grades 6–8 from an urban middle school in the Midwestern United States. In the fall (Time 1) and subsequent spring (Time 2) of the school year, youth completed in-school surveys with items on discrimination experiences, parental monitoring, and academic outcomes (intrinsic motivation, school self-esteem, commitment to learning, school bonding). Results from mediation analyses revealed that experiences with discrimination were in part related to academic outcomes through their effect on parental monitoring, and showed that exposure to discrimination predicted lower levels of parental monitoring, which in turn predicted lower levels of academic motivation and school engagement.

Effects of socio-demographic factors on parental monitoring, and regimen adherence among adolescents with type 1 diabetes: A moderation analysis.

Parental monitoring of adolescent diabetes care is an important predictor of adolescent regimen adherence. To date, no studies have investigated whether socio-demographic factors are associated with low levels of parental monitoring or differences in parental monitoring styles, and their moderating effects in families of adolescents with type 1 diabetes. The purpose of this cross-sectional study was to determine whether youth and family socio-demographic factors moderated the relationship between monitoring and youth regimen adherence (i.e., mean frequency of blood glucose testing [BGT]). Data were collected from 267 adolescents with type 1 diabetes and their parents. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses were employed. Socio-demographic factors accounted for 17.1% of the variance in adherence. After parental monitoring scales were entered, R2 in all eight equations increased and R2 change score in six of eight equations were significant. All models were significant after the interaction terms were entered. In the adolescent report models, parent age and family structure were both independently associated with adherence and also moderated the association between adolescent-report parental monitoring and adherence to diabetes care, in particular, adolescent report of parental direct observation/presence during diabetes care. In the parent report models, income was moderated the association between parent-report youth disclosure and adherence. Research should focus on identifying additional modifiable factors that place families at risk for low levels of parental monitoring of diabetes care. Future clinical research is needed to help identify risk factors for low levels of parental monitoring and develop interventions to promote optimal parenting skills that can support youth diabetes care.

Parental involvement and pupil reading achievement in Ireland: ‎Findings from PIRLS 2011

Contradictory findings often emerge from research into parental involvement in education. Failure to account for national context may be a contributory factor. This paper uses a multilevel framework and Irish data from the 2011 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study to examine associations between reading achievement and parental involvement. Findings show that informal measures of parental involvement accounted for a greater proportion of variance in reading achievement than formal or communication measures. There is some evidence that parental involvement can mitigate the effects of socioeconomic disadvantage. Low levels of parental monitoring, as measured by pupils having a TV in their bedroom or their own smartphone, are negatively associated with achievement, suggesting a need for ongoing parental education about this topic.

Person × environment interactions on adolescent delinquency: Sensation seeking, peer deviance and parental monitoring

Sensation seeking is a personality trait that is robustly correlated with delinquent behavior in adolescence. The current study tested specific contextual factors hypothesized to facilitate, exacerbate or attenuate this risk factor for adolescent delinquency. Individual differences in sensation seeking, peer deviance, parental monitoring and self-reported delinquent behavior were assessed in a sample of 470 adolescents. Peer deviance partially mediated the effects of sensation seeking and parental monitoring on adolescent delinquency. We also found evidence for a three-way interaction between sensation seeking, peer deviance and parental monitoring, such that the highest rates of delinquency occurred from the concurrence of high sensation seeking, high peer deviance, and low levels of parental monitoring. Results highlight the importance of considering peer- and family-level processes when evaluating personality risk and problematic adolescent behavior.

Energy drink consumption and later alcohol use among early adolescents

IntroductionLittle is known about the association between energy drink and other substance use in early adolescence despite the fact that the consumption of energy drinks during this developmental period is becoming increasingly common. The aim of this study was to examine concurrent and longitudinal associations between energy drink and alcohol use among middle school students. In addition, sensation seeking and parental monitoring were examined as factors that could potentially explain any associations found. MethodsA sample of 144 youth participating in the Camden Youth Development Study was utilized. Self-report questionnaire data was collected over a 16-month period. ResultsFrequency of energy drink use at the initial assessment predicted increases in frequency of alcohol use 16months later (adjusting for initial frequency of alcohol use). Levels of parental monitoring partially accounted for this association; in contrast, there was no evidence that sensation seeking was related to this association. ConclusionYouth who consume energy drinks in early adolescence are at risk for alcohol use later; this may be partially related to low levels of parental monitoring being associated with the consumption of both substances. Future research is needed to further explain this association; this may lead to opportunities for early intervention for youth at high risk for alcohol use.

Does parental monitoring moderate the relation between parent–child communication and pre-coital sexual behaviours among urban, minority early adolescents?

This study examined parental monitoring (PM) as a potential moderator of the relation between parent–child communication (PCC) and pre-coital sexual behaviours (PCSB) in an urban, minority, early adolescent population. Seventh-grade students (n = 1609) reported PCC, PM and PCSB. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to assess for moderation. PM moderated the association between PCC and PCSB. Specifically, young people reporting both high PCC and high PM had the lowest odds of PCSB. Findings suggest that PCC is more protective in combination with high PM. However, young people reporting low levels of PM had an increased probability of PCSB with higher levels of PCC. No moderating effect between PCC, PM and PCSB was found by race/ethnicity or gender. However, race/ethnicity was found to moderate the effect of PCC on PCSB. This knowledge highlights the protective role of parental factors on PCSB and may inform the development of more effective parent-based adolescent sexual health interventions that address both PCC and PM.

Parental, peer and school experiences as predictors of alcohol drinking among first and second generation immigrant adolescents in Israel

BackgroundEcological perspectives stress the importance of environmental predictors of adolescent alcohol use, yet little research has examined such predictors among immigrant adolescents. This study examines parental, peer and school predictors of alcohol drinking (casual drinking, binge drinking and drunkenness) among Israeli-born adolescents and first and second generation adolescent immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) and Ethiopia in Israel. MethodsThe study uses data from the 2010 to 2011 Israeli Health Behaviors of School age Children (HBSC) survey and includes a representative sample of 3059 adolescents, aged 11–17. Differences between the groups for drinking were examined using Pearson's chi square. Logistic regression models were used to examine group specific predictors of drinking. ResultsFirst generation FSU and both Ethiopian groups reported higher levels of binge drinking and drunkenness than Israeli-born adolescents. All immigrant groups reported lower levels of parental monitoring than native born adolescents; both first generation groups reported difficulties talking to parents; and first generation FSU and second generation Ethiopian adolescents reported greater time with friends. Group specific logistic regression models suggest that while parent, peer and school variables all predicted alcohol use among Israeli adolescents, only time spent with peers consistently predicted immigrant alcohol use. ConclusionsFindings highlight specific vulnerability of first generation FSU and second generation Ethiopian adolescents to high levels of drinking and the salience of time spent with peers as predicting immigrant adolescent drinking patterns. They suggest that drinking patterns must be understood in relation to country of origin and immigration experience of a particular group.

Associations Between Life Contexts and Early Sexual Initiation Among Young Women in France

Early sexual initiation (before age 16) has been linked to an increased risk of teenage pregnancy and STDs. Most research on correlates of early sexual initiation is from the United States; no similar work has been conducted in France, where the sociocultural environment differs. Cross-sectional data from the 2010 Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey were used to examine the relationships of personal, family, peer, school and neighborhood characteristics with early sexual initiation among 1,094 French females in grades 8-10. Two-level logistic regressions were used to identify associations. Twenty-five percent of respondents had had sex before age 16. Early sexual initiation was primarily -associated with individual-level characteristics. Young women had an elevated likelihood of having initiated sex early if they went out after school at least four times a week (odds ratio, 2.0), had repeated a grade (1.8), lived with a single parent or in a stepfamily (1.8 and 1.5, respectively), perceived a low level of parental monitoring (1.6) or had two or more male friends (2.8). At the environmental level, respondents who attended school in areas with a high proportion of residents who were foreigners had a reduced likelihood of having initiated sex early (0.5-0.6). Although early sexual initiation in France was essentially linked to individual-level variables, further research is needed to understand its relationship with neighborhood characteristics. Such studies should include additional environmental variables, test new hypotheses and employ a longitudinal approach.

Examining Parental Monitoring and Deviant Peers as Pathways to Sexual Risk Behaviors among Tehran (IR Iran) Adolescents.

Dear Editor, The article by Ahmadi et al. documented that boys affiliated more with deviant peers, experienced higher rates of riskier sex and lower levels of parental monitoring compared to girls among a sample of 1266 Tehran students. Additionally, the authors reported direct relationships between parental monitoring and sexual risk behaviors. Finally, results provided evidence that negative peer norms mediated the relationship between parental monitoring and sexual risk behaviors (1). Taken together, these findings make important contributions to the extant literature, corroborating earlier findings (2, 3) and articulating important gender differences that warrant further study. The literature on youth development often supports multiple perspectives on the trajectory of youth problem behaviors. One common perspective asserts that the influence of parental figures diminishes while that of peers increases. Another posits that the significance of negative peer influences only increases to the extent that strong parental monitoring functions are absent. The findings of this study reinforce these two perspectives and support their accuracy, at least among this population. However, not unlike many scientific studies, these findings seem to present more questions than definitive answers. First, there were no clear temporal stems for major study variables (i.e. parental monitoring, negative peer norms, or sexual risk behaviors). Therefore we do not know the temporal ordering of these variables and it is likely that many of the significant relationships in this study are bidirectional. For instance, it is plausible that engaging in risky sexual behaviors may draw youth into cohorts of peers who endorse drug and alcohol use or vice-versa. More importantly, cross-sectional studies like this one are limited in their ability to tease out temporal orderings or infer causal inferences. Given the methodological limitations of cross-sectional approaches, I find it highly unorthodox when the language of ‘prediction’ is associated with findings based on this method. However, notwithstanding these limitations, cross-sectional findings are highly valuable in establishing the existence of important relationships prior to developing costly longitudinal studies, which might then clarify temporal associations. As the authors noted, there are few studies that have examined the dynamics of sexual risk-taking, peer influences and parental monitoring in Tehran. Consequently, the significance of this study is timely. However, it remains unclear when this study was conducted as dates are not included. The authors mention that “4.5% of [teens] reported distress in the structure of their family;” although it is unclear what this distress refers to, such language suggests that important additional variables were collected in this survey. Using a broader ecological perspective, it would be intriguing to explore how community-level factors (e.g. community violence exposure or distress, gender roles and expectations and/or other cultural constructs) might impact parental monitoring and the pathways to risk explored in this study. In addition, given that the results of separate structural equation models were not reported in this study, nor was gender treated as a covariate, it is unclear whether to pathways to risk noted in this study were in fact gendered. Increasingly, research is documenting that although adolescent males and females may engage in similar types of risk behaviors, though at times to varying degrees, the mechanisms to such behaviors are often gendered (4). Based on these study findings, and given the unique gender and cultural scripts present in Tehran, there is still much to learn about the trajectories of youth problem behaviors in this region.

PP42 The Influence of Parental Monitoring and School Environment on Adolescent Alcohol Use

BackgroundThe importance of social determinants of adolescent health behaviour such as alcohol use has stimulated interest in family and school environments that may act as risk or protective factors. This...

Alcohol consumption among Chilean adolescents: Examining individual, peer, parenting and environmental factors

This study examined whether adolescents from Santiago, Chile who had never drunk alcohol differed from those who had drunk alcohol but who had never experienced an alcohol-related problem, as well as from those who had drunk and who had experienced at least one alcohol-related problem on a number of variables from four domains - individual, peers, parenting, and environmental. Cross-sectional. Community based sample. 909 adolescents from Santiago, Chile. Data were analyzed with multinomial logistic regression to compare adolescents who had never drunk alcohol (non-drinkers) with i) those that had drunk but who had experienced no alcohol-related problems (non-problematic drinkers) and ii) those who had drunk alcohol and had experienced at least one alcohol-related problem (problematic drinkers). The analyses included individual, peer, parenting, and environmental factors while controlling for age, sex, and socioeconomic status. Compared to non-drinkers, both non-problematic and problematic drinkers were older, reported having more friends who drank alcohol, greater exposure to alcohol ads, lower levels of parental monitoring, and more risk-taking behaviors. In addition, problematic drinkers placed less importance on religious faith to make daily life decisions and had higher perceptions of neighborhood crime than non-drinkers. Prevention programs aimed at decreasing problematic drinking could benefit from drawing upon adolescents' spiritual sources of strength, reinforcing parental tools to monitor their adolescents, and improving environmental and neighborhood conditions.

Preliminary evidence for a gene-environment interaction in predicting alcohol use disorders in adolescents.

Emerging research suggests that genetic influences on adolescent drinking are moderated by environmental factors. The present study builds on molecular-genetic findings by conducting the first analysis of gene-environment interactions in the association between a functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the μ-opioid receptor (OPRM1) gene (A118G) and risk of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD) during adolescence. Specifically, we tested whether variation in parenting practices or affiliation with deviant peers moderated the link between the OPRM1 gene and risk of an AUD. Adolescents reporting European ancestry (N=104), ages 12 to 19years (M=15.60, SD=1.77), were interviewed to ascertain AUD diagnoses, provided a DNA sample for genetic analyses, and completed measures of parental monitoring and deviant peer affiliation. Logistic regression was used to test the effects of environmental variables and their interactions with OPRM1 genotype as predictors of AUD diagnosis while controlling for age and sex. Case-control comparisons showed that the proportion of youth with an AUD (n=18) significantly differed by genotype such that 33.3% of G allele carriers met criteria for an AUD compared to 10.8% of youth who were homozygous for the A allele (p=0.006). The OPRM1 × parental monitoring (odds ratio=0.16) and OPRM1 × deviant peer affiliation (odds ratio=7.64) interactions were significant predictors of AUD risk, such that G allele carriers with high levels of deviant peer affiliation or lower levels of parental monitoring had the greatest likelihood of developing an AUD (p-values <0.01). This study provides initial evidence that the association between the A118G SNP of the OPRM1 gene and risk of AUDs is moderated by modifiable factors. These results are limited, however, by the small sample size and require replication.

부모의 양육행동과 청소년의 외로움 : 또래관계의 질의 매개효과

This study examined the relationship between parenting, the quality of peer relationships, and loneliness in adolescents. This study also examined the mediating effects of the quality of peer relationships on the relationship between parenting and adolescents` loneliness. A total of 506 1st and 2nd grade middle school students (261 boys and 245 girls) from the Seoul Metropolitan area completed measures of parenting, the quality of their peer relationships, and loneliness. The results indicated that adolescents` perceptions of parenting and the quality of their peer relationships were significantly related to their feelings of loneliness. Specifically, adolescents` perceptions of low levels of parental monitoring and high levels of abusive and neglectful parenting were associated with high levels of loneliness. Adolescents who perceived the quality of their peer relationships to be low reported high levels of loneliness. Further, the quality of peer relationships mediated the relationship between parenting and adolescents` loneliness; however, the pattern of associations differed for boys and girls. These findings suggest that both parent and peer relationship factors should be considered in combination in order to better explain loneliness in adolescents.

Marijuana Exposure Opportunity and Initiation during College: Parent and Peer Influences

Marijuana is the most prevalent illicit drug used by adolescents and young adults, yet marijuana initiation is rarely studied past adolescence. The present study sought to advance our understanding of parent and peer influences on marijuana exposure opportunity and incident use during college. A sample of 1,253 students was assessed annually for 4 years starting with the summer prior to college entry. More than one-third (38%(wt)) of students had already used marijuana at least once prior to college entry; another 25%(wt) initiated use after starting college. Of the 360 students who did not use marijuana prior to college, 74% were offered marijuana during college; of these individuals, 54% initiated marijuana use. Both low levels of parental monitoring during the last year of high school and a high percentage of marijuana-using peers independently predicted marijuana exposure opportunity during college, holding constant demographics and other factors (AOR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.88-0.96, p < .001 and AOR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.08-1.14, p < .001, respectively). Among individuals with exposure opportunity, peer marijuana use (AOR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.03-1.05, p < .001), but not parental monitoring, was associated with marijuana initiation. Results underscore that peer influences operate well into late adolescence and young adulthood and thus suggest the need for innovative peer-focused prevention strategies. Parental monitoring during high school appears to influence exposure opportunity in college; thus, parents should be encouraged to sustain rule-setting and communication about adolescent activities and friend selection throughout high school.

Personality and Parenting Processes Associated with Problem Behaviors: A Study of Adolescents in Santiago, Chile.

Considerable research in the U.S. has established that adolescent antisocial, aggressive, and attention problems have a negative influence on adolescents' ability to become productive members of society. However, although these behaviors appear in other cultures, little is known about the development of these problems among adolescents in countries other than the U.S.. This study contributes to our understanding of personality and parenting factors associated with adolescent problem behaviors using an international sample. Data are from a NIDA-funded study of 884 community-dwelling adolescents in Santiago, Chile (Mean age=14, SD=1.4, 48% females) of mid-to-low socioeconomic status. Results revealed that rule-breaking and aggressive behaviors were both associated with greater levels of adolescent drive but lower levels of parental monitoring and positive parenting by both parents. Adolescents who reported more attention problems were more likely to exhibit driven behavior, more behavioral inhibition, to report lower levels of parental monitoring, and positive parenting by mother and father. Results of interactions revealed that the influences of positive parenting and parental monitoring on adolescent aggressive behaviors varied as a function of the gender of the adolescent. Helping parents build on their parenting skills may result in important reductions in adolescent problem behaviors among U.S. and international adolescents.

Effects of Parental Monitoring and Exposure to Community Violence on Antisocial Behavior and Anxiety/Depression Among Adolescents

The aim of the research was to investigate the influence of gender, exposure to community violence, and parental monitoring upon antisocial behavior and anxiety/depression in adolescence. Involved in the study were 489 adolescents (290 males and 189 females) from 4 secondary schools in the city of Naples, Italy. The age of participants ranged from 16 to 19 (mean age = 17.53, standard deviation = 1.24). All were in the 3rd (11th grade) or 5th year (13th grade) of high school. Self-reported measures were used to assess antisocial behavior, symptoms of anxiety/depression, parental monitoring and exposure to community violence as a victim or as a witness. First of all we tested, through a hierarchical multiple regression, the independent contribution of gender, exposure to community violence and parental monitoring upon antisocial behavior and symptoms of anxiety/depression; then we tested the moderating role of gender and parental monitoring on the negative effects of exposure to violence. The results show that male gender, high level of exposure to community violence (both as a victim and a witness), and low level of parental monitoring predict a higher involvement in antisocial behavior. Female gender, being a victim and low level of parental monitoring predict symptoms of anxiety/depression. Furthermore, parental monitoring and gender play a moderating role, minimizing or amplifying the negative effects of exposure to community violence. The results of the research suggest that a similar pattern of risk and protective factors can give rise to multiple paths of adaptive or maladaptive development.

Alcohol outlet density, parental monitoring, and adolescent deviance: A multilevel analysis

Lower levels of parental monitoring are associated with youth problem behaviors, including substance use and delinquency. Recent studies employing routine activities theory have hypothesized that greater densities of alcohol outlets, particularly bars, may provide parents more opportunities to socialize outside the home. This, in turn, may decrease a parent's ability to effectively monitor the activities of his or her child, resulting in more deviant behaviors by the adolescent. Using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM), the current study assesses whether or not greater densities of alcohol outlets in zip code areas ( n = 50) interact with levels of parental monitoring to affect levels of deviance among adolescents aged 14 to 16 ( n = 1541). The study finds that adolescents who have higher grade point averages and have not used alcohol report the lowest levels of deviant behaviors. Furthermore, the density of bars interacts with reports of parental monitoring such that adolescents in areas with more bars per roadway mile report lower levels of parental monitoring behaviors, which is associated with higher levels of deviance. These findings suggest that in those areas with greater densities of bars parents may be spending more time away from home, making monitoring of their adolescents more difficult, or parents may be drinking more frequently, thus impairing their ability to adequately monitor their children. Policies and practices that limit the number of bars in neighborhood areas with large populations of adolescents may reduce deviant behaviors.