Home »  Men's Health »  Parents can help prevent problem drinking

Parents can help prevent problem drinking

College students are less likely to have drinking problems or engage in risky behaviour if their parents monitor their social lives.

Parents can help prevent problem drinking

College students are less likely to have drinking problems or engage in risky behaviour if their parents monitor their social lives.

While there's a plethora of research showing that low parental monitoring contributes to risky behaviour, very few researchers have examined the effects of parental monitoring separated out by mothers and fathers. It's normally measured just with the word parent.

Researchers asked 581 students at the Missouri University of Science and Technology and San Diego State University about the parenting styles of both their mothers and fathers, and their parents' knowledge of their friends and social plans. The students were also asked about their alcohol-related problems and impulsive behaviour. The parents were classified as authoritarian (emphasis on rules and obedience, and lack of discussion), authoritative (clear rules and instructions, but with an atmosphere of open discussion), or permissive (behaving more like a friend than a parent).

The study found that authoritative parents were most likely to effectively monitor their children (knowing about their social life and plans) whereas permissive parents were least likely to do so. The researchers were surprised to find that authoritarian parents didn't have an advantage or disadvantage in terms of monitoring.

The researchers expected an atmosphere of rules to play an important part in monitoring but the study showed that having strict house rules does not mean that emerging adults feel that parents really know about their social life or plans. The study also found that a higher degree of parental monitoring by the opposite-gender parent - that is, father and daughter, or mother and son - can indirectly reduce drinking problems among students by putting the brakes on impulsive behaviour.

It is well known that people who are more impulsive are more likely to struggle with control over their drinking and are more likely to experience alcohol-related problems than their less impulsive counterparts. The reasons for stronger association with the opposite-gender parent are not clearly understood as people seem to think that women or girls will be ok if just their mothers are involved in their lives while the study shows that fathers have an impact. The same is true for mothers having an influence over their sons. The researchers believed it has something to do with the socialisation process from one generation to the next. Perhaps it has something to do with learning how members of the opposite gender view and value certain behaviours.

The findings suggest that young adults need a certain level and style of parental monitoring, and this link is stronger with the parent of the opposite gender.
COMMENT

DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.

Was this Article Helpful Yes or No

................... Advertisement ...................

 

................... Advertisement ...................

................... Advertisement ...................

................... Advertisement ...................

--------------------------------Advertisement---------------------------------- -