[The influence of parents on habits and substance use in adolescents of Palma de Mallorca, Spain, in 2003].
BACKGROUND
Substance use is quite common among adolescents. The objective of this study was to determine the influence of parents on their habits.


METHODS
The study sample was made up of all 13 to 15 year old schoolchildren from the island of Majorca and their parents. Information was collected, with validated instruments, on parents and adolescents alcohol intake, smoking, socioeconomic status, sports and television watching, as well as adolescents academic performance.


RESULTS
The study included 4,019 schoolchildren and 7,359 parents. Parents belonging to a low socioeconomic level was the principal variable related to parental influence on smoking children (OR=3.86, 95% CI: 2.30-6.48, p=0.000), drinking (OR = 1.88, 95% CI: 1.40-2.54; p=0.000), failing courses (OR=6.37, 95% CI: 4.23-9.61; p=0.000), watching TV 2 hours/day (OR=1.97; 95%IC:1.69-2.29; p=0.000), and not practicing sports (OR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.38-0.80; p=0.001). Additionally, the mothers drinking had an influence on the children's smoking (OR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.24-1.51; p=0.002), and the parents smoking had an influence on the children's (boys, not girls) failing courses (OR=1.89, 95% CI: 1.33-2.68; p=0.000). The corresponding habits in parents increased the probability that adolescents drank (OR=1.91, 95% CI: 1.43-2.51; p=0.000), watched TV 2 hours/day (OR=1.97, 95% CI: 1.68-2.29; p=0.000), and practiced sports (OR=6.67, 95% CI: 2.57-14.96; p=0.000).


CONCLUSIONS
A low socioeconomic level is associated with a greater risk of smoking, drinking, failing courses and not practicing sports in the adolescents. Additionally, the mothers drinking is associated with a greater risk of her children smoking and drinking, and both parents drinking is associated with a greater risk of their children doing so. The practice of sports and the time spent watching television by the parents have an influence on the corresponding habits in their children, but have no influence on the adolescents smoking or drinking.
Kovacs
Francisco Manuel
FM
Departamento Científico, Fundación Kovacs Paseo de Mallorca 36, 07012 Palma de Mallorca, España. kovacs@kovacs.org
Gestoso García
Mario
M
Oliver-Frontera
Malén
M
Gil Del Real Calvo
María Teresa
MT
López Sánchez
Javier
J
Mufraggi Vecchierini
Nicole
N
Palou Sampol
Pere
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D009035:Mothers; D010290:Parents; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013690:Television