Parental underestimates of adolescent risk behavior: a randomized, controlled trial of a parental monitoring intervention.
OBJECTIVE
To develop and evaluate an intervention (ImPACT) seeking to increase monitoring (supervision and communication) by parents and guardians of African-American youth regarding high risk and protective behaviors; and to develop an instrument to assess parental monitoring, the Parent-Adolescent Risk Behavior Concordance Scale.


METHODS
This research was a randomized, controlled longitudinal study. Baseline (preintervention), and 2 and 6 months postintervention data were obtained via a talking MacIntosh computer regarding youth and parent perceptions of youth involvement in 10 risk behaviors, parental monitoring and youth-parent communication, and condom-use skills. Intervention parents and youth received the ImPACT program and a video emphasizing parental supervision and discussion, followed by a structured discussion and role-play emphasizing key points. Control parents and youth received an attention-control program on goal-setting, which also included an at-home video and discussion.


METHODS
A total of 237 parents and one each of their youth (ages 12-16 years) recruited from eight public housing developments located in a city in the mid-Atlantic region.


RESULTS
Similarity of youth and parental reporting on the Parent-Adolescent Risk Behavior Concordance Scale was positively correlated with protective behaviors, perceived parental monitoring, and good parent-youth communication. At baseline, parents significantly underestimated their youth's risk behaviors. However, 2 and 6 months postintervention, the ImPACT program increased similarity of reports by youth and their parents of youth involvement in risk and protective behaviors. In addition, at 6 months postintervention, intervention (compared to control) youths and parents also demonstrated higher levels of condom-use skills.


CONCLUSIONS
Parental monitoring interventions such as ImPACT should be given to parents in conjunction with more traditional youth-centered risk-reduction interventions.
Stanton
B F
BF
Center for Minority Health Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA.
Li
X
X
Galbraith
J
J
Cornick
G
G
Feigelman
S
S
Kaljee
L
L
Zhou
Y
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D003142:Communication; D017280:Condoms; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010290:Parents / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D011203:Poverty / Q000523:psychology; D000297:Psychology, Adolescent; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012381:Role Playing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014743:Videotape Recording