Adolescent (ages 12-17) managed care patients (n=444) were recruited for a clinic-based intervention to reduce alcohol/HIV risk. During a general health visit, they completed a baseline survey of their involvement with alcohol and their perceptions of parental influence. Frequent parental monitoring was associated with less likelihood of buying or drinking alcohol without parental knowledge, or being talked into drinking. In the past 3 months, adolescents who were frequently monitored were less likely to binge drink, or drink at all. Within the past 30 days, they were less likely to have been somewhere where they saw or suspected other teens were drinking, hung out with friends who were drinking, or ridden with a drinking driver. They were also less likely to intend to drink in the next three months. The protective value of frequent parental monitoring was primarily confined to adolescents aged 14 - 17. On average, adolescents who report frequent parental monitoring were about 40% as likely to be alcohol-risk involved as adolescents who report less frequent monitoring. There was no protective association with parents talking to teens about avoiding alcohol. Adolescents whose parents talked to them about avoiding alcohol were more likely to be binge drinkers and to have been to places where they suspected other teens were drinking. This suggests that parental admonishment not to drink is a reactive response to teens who have engaged in high risk behavior. The need to enhance parental monitoring as a proactive protective parental response is indicated.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant will be able to define different ways of measuring alcohol risk in an adolescent population and identify the degree to which parental monitoring is associated with protection against these risks.
Keywords: Adolescents, Alcohol
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.