Association Between Perceived Parent Attitudes and Teen Cannabis and Alcohol Use.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the association between teen substance use and neutral or conflicting messages from parents.

METHODS

Secondary analysis using multivariable generalized linear mixed-effect logit models examining associations between middle and high school students self-reported past-year alcohol/cannabis use and parental attitudes.

RESULTS

Of 4,802 participants (mean age 13.6 years, 48.9% female, 63.8% White, 86.9% non-Hispanic) most reported parental disapproval of teen alcohol (78.3%) and cannabis (80.5%) use. Participants who reported neutral or conflicting parental attitudes were more likely to report past-year alcohol (adjusted odds ratio: 3.35, 95% confidence interval: 2.81-4.00, p < .0001) or cannabis (adjusted odds ratio: 4.23, 95% confidence interval: 3.37-5.31, p < .0001) use. There was no difference in the odds of past-year substance use between those who reported parental "approval" of teen alcohol/cannabis use versus "disagree/have differing perspectives" or "neutral/don't care".

DISCUSSION: Neutral or conflicting parental attitudes toward teen substance use appear to have similar impact on teen behavior as frank approval.