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Comparative Study
. 2012 Jan;73(1):71-9.
doi: 10.15288/jsad.2012.73.71.

Investigating associations between perceived parental alcohol-related messages and college student drinking

Caitlin C Abar  1 , Nicole R Morgan, Meg L Small, Jennifer L Maggs
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Investigating associations between perceived parental alcohol-related messages and college student drinking

Caitlin C Abar et al. J Stud Alcohol Drugs. 2012 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: A debate remains regarding whether parents should teach their children harm-reduction tips for using alcohol while in college or whether they should maintain a zero-tolerance policy. Which type of alcohol-related communication parents should endorse is not empirically clear. The current study made use of a longitudinal measurement-burst design to examine this issue.

Method: The sample consisted of 585 second-year students from a large university in the northeastern United States. Participants completed a baseline survey and 14 daily web-based surveys. Students were assessed for perceptions of parental alcohol-related messages and their own alcohol use. Multilevel models were estimated using HLM 6.04.

Results: The data indicate that zero-tolerance messages appeared most protective against alcohol use and consequences. Harm-reduction messages were most risky, even when compared with mixed messages or the absence of a message.

Conclusions: Findings indicate that a zero-tolerance approach was associated with safer outcomes than other messages, even if students were already using alcohol.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Spring sophomore year (Semester 4) percentage of students who communicated with their parents on the 8 weekdays, surveyed by days and sex
Figure 2
Figure 2
Spring sophomore year (Semester 4) percentage of students who communicated with their parents on the 6 weekend days, surveyed by time of week and sex
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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