Children and adolescents of any age who drink or try alcohol with the permission of their parents are more likely to participate in the risky consumption of alcohol in early adulthood. That was the discovery of a new study that my colleagues and I published in the magazine Addictive Behaviors.
In the study, we examine questionnaires completed annually between 2009 and 2018 by 387 adolescents from 11 years and an accompanying father. The issues included the history of alcohol consumption by children and parents, beliefs about alcohol and rules about alcohol at home. The questionnaires also asked adolescents if they had ever drunk alcohol with the permission of their parents, even a few sips, and if so, at what age they first did it.
We analyzed whether alcohol consumption with parents permission during adolescence predicted alcohol results in early adulthood, between 18 and 20 years. These results included the frequency and quantity they drank, the symptoms of alcohol consumption disorder and the negative consequences, such as self -harm and repentance of the things that were said while they drank.
Then, we observed if the age at which this practice began affected the probability of risky consumption of alcohol. In our analysis, we also took into account factors such as peer alcohol consumption, alcohol consumption of parents and personality.
In our sample, alcohol consumption with the permission of the parents began between 5 and 17, but usually began around 12 years. We found that about 80% of adolescents responded that they had drunk alcohol with the parents’ permission. That number is higher than in other studies, probably because our study had a wide age range. The research that explores this issue generally focuses on younger adolescents, who are less likely that their parents allow them to try alcohol, but this practice becomes more common as adolescents grow.
We found that adolescents were more likely in early adulthood to drink more frequently and in greater quantities in families that allowed this practice compared to those who did not. The risk of experiencing symptoms of alcohol consumption disorder and negative consequences of alcohol consumption in early adulthood was also greater. It is important to note that the age at which it began to drink with the permission of the parents did not change this effect.
Why is it important?
Parents play a fundamental role in teaching their children about alcohol. The family is usually the first context in which children are introduced into alcohol, either trying them or observing others drinking. In the United States, studies suggest that between 30% and 40% of children under 13 prove alcohol with parents permission.
Many parents see this as a protection strategy, believing that it reduces curiosity about alcohol and provides the opportunity to supervise safe alcohol consumption. However, the studies of several research groups have found that parents who provide alcohol, even only sips or flavors, actually increase instead of reducing alcohol consumption in the future.
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Our study is the first to explore whether the age at which to try alcohol with the permission of parents makes a difference in increasing the potential for subsequent alcohol consumption. In general, findings can inform public health messages that explain the risks of allowing adolescents to try alcohol at any age.
Why could the parents permission to drink or try alcohol increase the risk? Some scientists have speculated that they can promote the belief that parents approve alcohol consumption by minors and change the attitudes and beliefs of children so that they are more in favor of alcohol.
The ongoing work and still published in our laboratory supports it. That is, it strengthens its beliefs in the possible positive results of the drink, such as making the holidays more fun, and weakens their beliefs in the possible negative results, such as getting into trouble.
What is not yet known
Future studies can shed light on whether to drink and try alcohol regularly in adolescence is more risky than doing it only once or twice.
In addition, the degree of notivity of practice can depend on the personality of adolescents, as well as the context in which parents allow it. For example, it can be particularly harmful to children who are inclined to look for novel and exciting experiences. On the other hand, in very structured environments, such as religious events, it can be less risky.
*Bernard Pereda is a doctoral student in Psychology at the University of Buffalo.
This article was originally published in The Conversation/Reuters
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