The Missing Role of Parents: A Content Analysis of Newspaper Coverage of Parenting Practices and Communication Strategies for Addressing Binge Drinking

Abstract

Parents can employ communication strategies to prevent alcohol use among college students. This investigation utilizes content analysis to examine the coverage of parent-related strategies in 32 newspapers over the last decade. Of the 255 articles related to college drinking, only 49 mentioned one or more parenting strategies. The most frequently mentioned strategies were parental notification of their child's problem behavior by college administrators and communicating with older children about alcohol. The strategies mentioned least were monitoring and staying connected with college-aged children and talking about the consequences of binge drinking. The minimal coverage suggests a need for the use of media advocacy by public health professionals.

Keywords:

• College Binge Drinking
• Media Advocacy
• Parents

Notes

The peak in coverage in 2002 (7 articles) is probably related to the release of the Call to Action document by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. The Call to Action document was released in April 2002, and it generated much discussion at universities and colleges, which, in turn, drew the attention of the print media.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Natoshia M. Askelson

Natoshia M. Askelson (PhD, University of Iowa, 2008) is an associate research scientist in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City.

Shelly Campo

Shelly Campo (PhD, Michigan State University, 1999) is an associate professor in the Department of Community and Behavioral Health and Department of Communication Studies at the University of Iowa, Iowa City.

Teresa Mastin

Teresa Mastin (▪) is an associate professor in the College of Communication at DePaul University, Chicago, IL.

Mary Slonske

Mary Slonske (BA, Michigan State University, 2008) is a public relations intern at Nereus Worldwide, Beaverton, OR.