Parental Restriction of Mature-rated Media and Its Association With Substance Use Among Argentinean Adolescents

Abstract

Objective: To assess the independent relation between parental restrictions on mature-rated media (M-RM) and substance use among South American adolescents.

Methods: Cross-sectional school-based youth survey of 3,172 students (mean age, 12.8 years; 57.6% boys) in 3 large Argentinean cities. The anonymous survey queried tobacco, alcohol, and drug use using items adapted from global youth surveys. Adolescents reported M-RM restriction for internet and video game use, television programming, and movies rated for adults. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between parental M-RM restriction and substance use after adjustment for hourly media use, measures of authoritative parenting style, sociodemographic characteristics, and sensation-seeking.

Results: Substance use rates were 10% for current smoking, 32% for current drinking alcohol, 17% for past 30-day binge drinking, and 8% for illicit drug use (marijuana or cocaine). Half of the respondents reported parental M-RM restriction (internet 52%, TV 43%, adult movies 34%, video game 25%). Parental M-RM restriction was only modestly correlated with authoritative parenting measures. In multivariate analyses M-RM restriction on all 4 venues was strongly protective for all substance use outcomes. Compared with no restriction, odds ratios for substance use for full restrictions were 0.32 (0.18-0.59), 0.53 (0.38-0.07), 0.36 (0.22-0.59), and 0.49 (0.26-0.92) for current smoking, drinking, binge drinking, and illicit drug use, respectively. The most important single M-RM venue was movies.

Conclusions: Results of this study confirmed the protective association between parental M-RM restriction during adolescence and multiple substance use outcomes, including illicit drugs. M-RM restriction is independent of traditional parenting measures. The preponderance of the evidence supports intervention development.

Keywords: alcohol; drugs; media; parenting; prevention; tobacco; youth.

Figure 1

Unadjusted relationship between restriction of mature-rated media and substance use Percentage of students who were smoke, drink or use illicit drugs according the restrictions a) rules about what they can see or do online; b) rules about what videogames they can play; c) rules about what TV programs they can see; and d) How often they are allowed to watch movies or DVD qualified as recommended for over 16 or 18 years p<0.001 for all comparison (chi square test)