Discussion
The goal of the present study was to investigate the relative strengths of the relationships of perceived parental disapproval and perceived peer disapproval with drug use intentions at two different points in youth development. We expected perceptions of parent disapproval toward substance use to be a stronger predictor of drug use intentions for sixth graders and perceptions of peer disapproval to be stronger for eighth graders. The results supported these hypotheses and were consistent with the social development model and reasonably consistent with prior studies (e.g., Catalano and Hawkins 1996; Gerstein and Green 1993; Webb et al. 1995).
We also were interested in whether the regression coefficient when regressing drug use intentions onto disapproval (parent and peer) for sixth graders was different from the corresponding regression coefficient for eighth graders. Results of the interaction analyses indicated no difference between the grades in influence of parent disapproval, but for eighth graders peer disapproval showed more influence on substance-using intentions (i.e., there was a moderating effect for grade on the role of peer influence, but not for the role of parent influence).
These findings are important in extending the theoretical understanding of the role of two major factors influencing adolescent substance use at two different levels of maturity. One inference is that a turning point in parent and peer influence on drug use decision-making may occur at a time when youth begin to strive for independence and become more closely attached to peers. Of special importance is the finding that, although the strength of peer influence is stronger when youth are in the eighth grade, parent influence still is a significant factor.
These results provide encouragement and hope for parents. As adolescents age, they believe a number of behaviors to be under their own personal control and not open to adult regulations (Goldstein and Tisak 2006). If adolescents do not consider others to possess authority over antisocial behaviors, they might be resistant to others' attempts to regulate them through intervention and prevention efforts (Goldstein and Tisak 2006). With respect to the present findings, it appears that despite these beliefs, youth retain consideration of parental preferences at least through eighth grade.
The present findings can be usefully integrated with developmental patterns reported in other studies. For example, Webb et al. (>1995) found stronger relationships to intentions to use alcohol for family factors in fifth graders, but peer factors were more strongly related to intentions for sixth graders. Sheppard et al. (>1987) found parents are influential prior to experimentation with ATOD, but the peer group becomes important when a young person has already made the decision to use substances. Wood et al. (>2004) found that parental influence moderated peer influences into late adolescence. Thus, parents can have an encouraging, lasting impact on their youth despite the increasing role of peer influence. Findings from this study indicate the importance of peer relationships for adolescents. Programs with peer involvement in the planning and promotion of alcohol free social activities (e.g., Komro et al. 1996) and peer leaders (e.g., Perry et al. 1993; 1996; St. Pierre et al. 1992) are encouraging.
Prior studies (e.g., Xueqin Ma and Shive 2000; Griffin et al. 2000) have shown that the relationships of substance use and risk and protective factors predicting use have varied in important ways between boys and girls. Griffin et al. (>2000) found that boys smoked more cigarettes than girls in social situations, and girls smoked more at home when they were unsupervised. Girls also may use cigarettes as a weight loss device or to assist in maintaining their weight (Grigg et al. 1996). Ackard et al. (>2006) found that girls reported higher prevalence rates than boys on low self-esteem (47.15% girls, 24.56% boys); and depression (63.52% girls, 33.35% boys), two predictors of substance use.
The most recent results from the Monitoring the Future survey reported that both eighth and tenth graders demonstrated fewer and smaller gender differences in the use of substances than in past years. The authors speculated that girls might tend to date and then try to be like older boys, who are in age groups considerably more likely to use drugs (Johnston et al. 2007). In the eighth grade sample and the combined sixth and eighth grade sample of the present study, there was a small but significant effect indicating that girls reported higher intentions to use ATOD than did boys. These findings indicate a need for prevention programs that take into account the variations between boys and girls in risk and protective factors and substance use behaviors. Self-esteem, for example, might be a significant factor for girls who date older boys - especially if they submit to substance use to be better received - but of less importance to boys.
J Prim Prev. 2008;29(6):465-477. © 2008 Springer
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Cite this: Perceived Parental and Peer Disapproval Toward Substances: Influences on Adolescent Decision-Making - Medscape - Nov 01, 2008.
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