Despite how it may feel sometimes, research shows that parents are an important influence on whether or not teens choose to drink alcohol, use cannabis or other substances, get into a car with someone who has been drinking alcohol or using other substances, or drive when impaired. Teens do care about their parents’ opinions, and our research proves it. Teens credit their parents with being the most important influence in their decision-making about alcohol. Many studies show that authoritarian, overprotective, and permissive parenting can lead to negative outcomes, but it is never too late to adopt a new approach to parenting! DIFFERENCE PARENTS DO MAKE A
Breaking News: Dr. Turrisi’s team observed that parental orientations towards alcohol consequences
It’s common for parents and partners to have different approaches to parenting. For example, one parent might be stricter and rule-focused (authoritarian), while the other is more protective and nurturing (overprotective). While these differences can sometimes create confusion for teens, they can also present an opportunity to model teamwork and compromise. TWO STYLES? Two Parents,
significantly influence the quantity and frequency of their teen’s drinking and
consequences. For example, if teens reported that their parents thought it
was normal for them to experiment with
alcohol (and experience hangovers), they drank alcohol more frequently and in greater amounts. They also experienced more problems resulting from their drinking.
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