Latent growth curve analyses of parent influences on drinking progression among early adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
The nature of parent influences on early adolescent substance use was examined.


METHODS
Latent growth curve analyses were used to examine data on a sample of 2,453 adolescents from seven middle schools who were randomized to a problem behavior prevention program or a control condition and were assessed a total of five times during sixth to ninth grade.


RESULTS
Whereas the growth in the number of friends who drink was positively associated with adolescent drinking, parental involvement, monitoring and expectations over time provided direct protective effects against drinking progression and indirect effects by limiting increases in the number of friends who drink.


CONCLUSIONS
The results provide evidence in a sample of early adolescents that parenting behavior--including involvement, monitoring and expectations--protected against progression in drinking directly as well as indirectly by limiting growth in the number of friends who drink.
Simons-Morton
Bruce
B
Prevention Research Branch, Division of Epidemiology, Statistics, and Prevention Research, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, 6100 Executive Boulevard, 7B13M, Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, USA. Mortonb@mail.nih.gov
Chen
Rusan
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010379:Peer Group; D012380:Role; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires