Parental monitoring, parent-adolescent communication and adolescent risk behaviors

Background. Few studies have evaluated long-term impact of parental monitoring and communication on adolescent problem behavior engagement. This study examined correlation between youths' and parents' perceptions regarding parental monitoring, open communication and problem communication and their predictability on adolescent risk involvement over time. Methods. Data used in this study were obtained from 2,919 parent-adolescent dyads through the baseline surveys of two interventions: 1) the evidence-based Focus on Youth in the Caribbean (FOYC) intervention among grade six students in 2004; and 2) the Bahamian Focus on Older Youth (BFOOY) among grade ten students in 2008. Mixed model analyses were conducted to examine the relationship between parental monitoring and communication and adolescent problem behaviors. Results: Youths' and parents' perceptions about parental monitoring and communication were highly correlated. Parents perceived high levels of monitoring, open communication and sex communication but a low level of problem communication than their children. Parents consistently underestimated their children's engagement in sexual activity and problem behaviors (e.g., marijuana use). For grade ten youth, both adolescent and parent reports of monitoring were predictive of adolescent sexual intercourse and problem behaviors in the last six months. Adolescent and parent reports of monitoring at grade six had a long-term protective effect on initiation of sexual intercourse at grade ten; Adolescent reports of problem communication at grade six was predictive of increased sexual activity and problem behaviors at grade ten. Conclusion: Parent-adolescent problem communication during early adolescence is a strong predictive factor for adolescent engagement of sexual and problem behaviors at mid-adolescence.