Parent-Youth Relationships and Youth Alcohol Use: The Moderating Role of Parental Alcohol Use

Abstract

AbstractPrevious studies have shown that strong parent-youth relationships serve as a protective factor inhibiting early alcohol use onset among youth, while parental alcohol use as a risk factor. However, little is known about the moderating effect of parental alcohol use on the relationship between parent-youth relationships and youth alcohol use. Using a nationally representative sample of 2,667 junior high school students entering eighth grade (aged 14 to 15) in Taiwan, this study examined the moderating role of parent use of alcohol on the relationship between parent-youth relationships and youth alcohol use. Results show that parent-youth relationship only remains a protective factor for youths whose parents do not drink alcohol; parent-youth relationship increases the likelihood of youth alcohol use if the parents use alcohol. Results suggest that parents and practitioners aiming to prevent early alcohol use onset among junior high school students should be aware of the potential influence of parental alcohol use behaviors and educate youths to assess their health behaviors regardless of their parents’ alcohol use behaviors.