Trajectories of adolescent alcohol use and its bidirectional relation to parent-child relationship domains

Abstract

A good parent-adolescent relationship may serve as a protective factor, whereas a poor parental relationship can lead to alcohol related problems later in life. However, the alcohol use behaviour of adolescents may also affect the parent-adolescent relationship. The current study focuses on alcohol use trajectories and their bidirectional relation to parental warmth, conflict and monitoring. Data is drawn from a three-year longitudinal study addressing adolescent risk behaviour. Participants were Dutch adolescents (N=602, mean age=13.5 at baseline). Three adolescent drinking trajectories were identified using cluster analysis: abstainers, initiators, and high users. Repeated measures analysis of variance was implemented to examine the association between parenting factors and adolescent drinking trajectories. Parental warmth, conflict and monitoring at baseline predicted which alcohol use trajectories adolescents follow. Low warmth and monitoring, and high conflict predicted higher use of alcohol, whereas high support and monitoring, and low conflict suggested delay or prevention of alcohol initiation. Overall, abstainers and initiators reported high levels of warmth, with abstainers scoring lowest on conflict and highest on all domains of monitoring. Contrary to expectations, high users showed an increase in warmth towards fathers', whereas a decrease in conflict with mothers' was found, which suggests avoidance of interactions. High users reported an increase of parental monitoring (disclosure and control), implying that parents make an effort to better monitor adolescents engaging in risky alcohol use. Results confirm that a good parental relationship may lead to less risky adolescent drinking behaviours which in turn will lead to more positive future outcomes. Key words: A good parent-adolescent relationship may serve as a protective factor, whereas a poor parental relationship can lead to alcohol related problems later in life. However, the alcohol use behaviour of adolescents may also affect the parent-adolescent relationship. The current study focuses on alcohol use trajectories and their bidirectional relation to parental warmth, conflict and monitoring. Data is drawn from a three-year longitudinal study addressing adolescent risk behaviour. Participants were Dutch adolescents (N=602, mean age=13.5 at baseline). Three adolescent drinking trajectories were identified using cluster analysis: abstainers, initiators, and high users. Repeated measures analysis of variance was implemented to examine the association between parenting factors and adolescent drinking trajectories. Parental warmth, conflict and monitoring at baseline predicted which alcohol use trajectories adolescents follow. Low warmth and monitoring, and high conflict predicted higher use of alcohol, whereas high support and monitoring, and low conflict suggested delay or prevention of alcohol initiation. Overall, abstainers and initiators reported high levels of warmth, with abstainers scoring lowest on conflict and highest on all domains of monitoring. Contrary to expectations, high users showed an increase in warmth towards fathers', whereas a decrease in conflict with mothers' was found, which suggests avoidance of interactions. High users reported an increase of parental monitoring (disclosure and control), implying that parents make an effort to better monitor adolescents engaging in risky alcohol use. Results confirm that a good parental relationship may lead to less risky adolescent drinking behaviours which in turn will lead to more positive future outcomes.