Parent-adolescent Alcohol-specific Communication and Perceptions of Alcohol in a High School Sample

• Published in: Journal of adolescent health Vol. 60; no. 2; p. S3
• Main Authors: Brittner, Mindy Rachel, MD, Pugh, Brandie Sue, MA, Soren, Karen, MD, FSAHM, Richter, Linda, PhD, Stockwell, Melissa S., MD, MPH
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Elsevier Inc 01-02-2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Adolescents; Alcohol use; Communication; Drinking behavior; Parents & parenting; Pediatrics; Perceptions; Secondary schools; Teenagers
• ISSN: 1054-139X; 1879-1972
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.10.028

An abstract of a study by Brittner et al describing the relationship between frequency of parent-adolescent alcohol-specific communication and adolescents' perceptions of alcohol is presented. Among adolescents who used alcohol, a dose-response relationship existed between frequency of alcohol-specific communication and thinking binge drinking is very dangerous [often vs. never (AOR 6.98; 95% CI 2.75-17.73), sometimes vs. never (AOR 4.96 95% CI 2.00-12.28), rarely vs. never (AOR 3.80 95% CI 1.46-9.88)]. Among never-drinkers, there was no relationship between frequency of communication and thinking binge drinking is very dangerous. While among those with prior use, more frequent communication was associated with decreased perceptions that drinking is cool [often vs. never (AOR .22; 0.08-0.61), rarely vs. never (AOR 0.21; 95% Cl 0.07-0.60)], the inverse was true for never-drinkers. Alcohol-specific communication was associated with increased odds of perceiving getting drunk as very dangerous only at the greatest frequency of communication [often vs. never (AOR 236; 95% CI 1.41 -3.95)]. Parental monitoring was also associated with adolescent perceptions of alcohol, and prior alcohol use did not modify this effect. More monitoring (very true vs. not at all/a little true) was associated with increased odds of thinking binge drinking is very dangerous (AOR 2.49; 95% CI 1.42-4.36) and decreased perception that drinking is cool [very true vs. not at all/a little true (AOR 020: 95% CI 0.11-0.36), somewhat true vs. not at all/a little true (AOR 0.49: 95% CI 0.26-0.92)].