The Influence of Parental Behaviors and Family Structure on Adolescent Alcohol Use

Alcohol is the most commonly used substance during adolescence. Alcohol use, particularly early initiation, carries many short- and long-term consequences that may persist long into adulthood. Despite evidence to suggest that single-parent family structures increase the risk of adolescent engagement in alcohol use, there is limited understanding of the parenting behaviors that may aid single-parents in potentially lowering the risk of alcohol engagement in this developmental period. This study examines the relationship between family structure and alcohol use behavior in adolescents as a function of early initiation and current alcohol use. Of particular interest is to what degree do specific parenting behaviors (monitoring, alcohol-specific communication, negative attitudes towards alcohol use, and encouragement) moderate the risk between single-parent family structure and adolescent alcohol use. Results suggest higher rates of early initiation and current alcohol use among adolescents from single-parent households when compared to their counterparts from two-parent households. Parental attitudes towards alcohol use was the only parental behavior shown to significantly moderate the effects of family structure on early initiation for adolescents from single-parent households.

Author

• Kaufman Walker, Jennifer E.

Language

• en

Keyword

• Protective Factors
• Alcohol Use
• Prevention
• Risk Factors
• Single-Parents
• Adolescents

Date created

• 2021

Type of Work

• Dissertation

License

• All rights reserved

Rights statement

• In Copyright

GW Unit

• Counseling

Degree

• Ph.D.

Advisor

• Pittman, Delishia

Committee Member(s)

• Howard, Lionel
• Corodimas, Keith
• Megivern, Monica
• Witmer, Elizabeth
• Miller, Janet

Persistent URL

•  https://scholarspace.library.gwu.edu/etd/gb19f642h