Parental approval of alcohol use in an adolescent population: Prevalence and correlates of risky behaviors

This study investigates the influence of parental approval of teens alcohol use in a population of 836 high school students. The average age of the respondents was 16.09 years, 50.3%were female and 41.2% were African American. We asked students “Would your parents or guardians be upset if they knew you drank alcohol?” Most students replied their parent or guardian would be upset (79.1%). Those who answered no (n=?) were more likely to be younger (p<0.001), ride in a car with a drinking driver (OR=2.05), have friends who drink and drive (OR=1.6), have fewer friends who would disapprove of drinking and driving (p<0,001), think it is very easy to drink at home (p<0.001), smoke (p=0.003), have smoking parents (OR=1.7), be allowed to smoke in their home (p<0.001), have friends who smoke (OR=2.5), have had at least one drink of alcohol (OR=3.8), had a drink alcohol in the past 30 days (OR=3.7), been a binge drinker (OR=2.56), tried marijuana (OR=3.0), have smoked marijuana in the past 30 days (OR=2.0), smoked marijuana at school (OR=5.6), used inhalants (OR=2.3), used methamphetamines (OR=3.6), and used ecstasy (OR=2.2). They were less likely to think drinking and driving is dangerous after 1 or two drinks (p<0.001) and after 5 drinks (p<0.001). There was no difference among these variables in gender, or race. Given the recent discussion in the media about the allowance of drinking in the home, this study contributes to the notion that parental attitudes about drinking could impact risky behaviors among their teenage children.