title: Parent attitudes, family dynamics and adolescent drinking: qualitative study of the Australian Parenting Guidelines for Adolescent Alcohol Use.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Parents play a critical role in their children's introduction to alcohol. A range of parenting factors have been associated with the progression to risky drinking among adolescents, and have recently formed the basis of the Australian 'Parenting Guidelines for Adolescent Alcohol Use' designed to help parents delay or reduce their adolescents' alcohol use.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study aimed to explore the experiences and attitudes of parents of adolescents to gain insight into: (1) the extent to which the behaviours of parents follow the recommendations made in the guidelines; and (2) approaches to reduce hazardous drinking among adolescents. Thirty-two telephone and face-to-face interviews were conducted with parents, and the content of discussions was examined using thematic analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents used approaches they thought would minimise harm and promote healthy development in their children. The guidelines address key areas of concern for parents but their adherence to these approaches is low in certain areas. Many parents provided some alcohol to their adolescents and often cited the social norm of drinking among their adolescents' peers as a source of pressure to supply.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further dissemination of the guidelines may be the first step in a public health strategy, but it is likely that parents will require support to effectively adopt the recommendations. Understanding the influences on parents' beliefs about their children's drinking and the functions of social networks in the creation of behavioural norms relating to alcohol consumption and supply may be necessary to address adolescent risky drinking.
authors: Discipline of Health Behaviour Science and Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, University Drive Callaghan, Newcastle, 2308 NSW, Australia. Conor.Gilligan@newcastle.edu.au
authors: Conor
authors: C
authors: Gilligan
authors: Kypros
authors: K
authors: Kypri
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005192:Family Health / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012923:Social Class; D012925:Social Conformity