Parental Messages about Substance Use in Early Adolescence: Extending a Model of Drug-Talk Styles

ABSTRACT

This study extends a typology of parent–offspring drug talk styles to early adolescents and investigates associations with adolescent substance use. Data come from a self-report survey associated with a school-based, 7th grade drug prevention curriculum. Mixed methods were used to collect data across four measurement occasions spanning 30 months. Findings highlight the frequencies of various drug-talk styles over time (i.e., situated direct, ongoing direct, situated indirect, ongoing indirect, never talked), messages adolescents hear from parents, and comparisons of alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use by drug-talk style. This study advances an understanding of parent–adolescent communication about substances and holds practical implications for drug prevention efforts.

Acknowledgments

Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. Portions of this paper were presented at the 2013 annual meeting of the National Communication Association.

Funding

This publication was supported by Grant Number R01DA021670 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to The Pennsylvania State University (Michael Hecht, Principal Investigator).

Additional information

Funding

This publication was supported by Grant Number R01DA021670 from the National Institute on Drug Abuse to The Pennsylvania State University (Michael Hecht, Principal Investigator).