Role of parental monitoring and peer influences on substance use with Caribbean Youth

Introduction: Previous research suggests high levels of alcohol consumption and drug use among Caribbean Youth. The literature indicates that negative peer influences have been associated with high risk behaviors; however, emerging evidence suggests that parental monitoring may counteract peer influence. This study's objective was to examine the effects of parental monitoring and perceived peer norms on adolescent alcohol and drug use.

Methods: The data is from several Caribbean islands and is part of a larger IRB approved project assessing risk behaviors among adolescents. The survey included demographic information and questions from the Center for Disease Control's Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and assessed health risk prevalence including alcohol and drug use.

Results: 903 youth were a part of this study (Male-43%, Female-57%; mean age=15.6 (SD=1.6). For alcohol use, parental monitoring accounted for variance above and beyond that of perceived peer norms, although the effect was small (Adj R2=.03). No interaction was found between parental monitoring and perceived peer norms with alcohol behavior. For drug use, parental monitoring moderated the effect of perceived peer norms (B=.101, p<.01).

Conclusions: Parental monitoring had differential influences over adolescent substance use. Cultural norms regarding the acceptability of alcohol use, even among adolescents, are prevalent within many Caribbean cultures and may override the effects of parental monitoring; perhaps accounting for these differences regarding the role of parental monitoring. For drug use, parental monitoring demonstrated protective effects. Further investigation is important in this area in developing effective prevention/intervention programs that target these high risk behaviors.