Parental Concern: Parents Discuss How They Support Their Adolescents Attending Schoolies Events in Australia

ABSTRACT

Adolescents who have completed their high school studies converge on coastal areas of Australia annually to celebrate their freedom in events known as “Schoolies.” The current body of research in relation to Schoolies demonstrates that adolescents consume alcohol and other drugs and engage in sexual activity during these events. Exactly how parents support adolescents in attending these events and how they perceive the Schoolies experience represent major gaps in the literature. To undertake this research, 7 parents were interviewed using a semi-structured approach. Interview transcripts were analyzed using Braun and Clarke’s thematic analysis, with 4 main themes identified: communication, consuming alcohol, peer support, and helping parents to support their adolescents in attending Schoolies. Communication was the main strategy used by parents to talk about Schoolies with their adolescent, with the majority encouraging open communication around drinking alcohol, staying with friends, and instilling correct or moral values into their adolescents in relation to respectful behavior. Parents saw the consumption of alcohol as inevitable and as something they could not control. However, the ramifications of alcohol consumption were the primary concerns for these parents. This study provides a number of insights into the perceptions that parents have about Schoolies events and how they support their adolescent to attend. Parents sought guidance in supporting their adolescent child via educational media and talking to other parents.

KEYWORDS:

• Alcohol
• events
• parents
• Schoolies
• support