Poster #30 - Intergenerational Risk Behavior Transmission Between Parents and Adolescents

• In Event: Poster Session 04

Abstract

Patterns of substance use and risk behaviors more generally are multigenerational; however, not all children go on to use substances or engage in risk behaviors just because their parents do, and there is scant research on what accounts for this variability. Too, most studies of parents’ substance use focus on mothers, despite men being more likely to engage in substance use and exhibit more extreme use patterns, resulting in higher rates of disordered behavior and overdose-related deaths. Therefore, this study examines risk behaviors across generations, including both mothers and fathers.
The quality of parent-child relationships likely helps explain the association between parent and adolescent risk behaviors. As youth explore a social landscape that includes information about socially accepted behavior, parents serve as models of attitudes and behaviors that shape young peoples’ risk-taking choices (Rogers & McKinney, 2019). Evidence indicates that supportive parent-child relationship qualities are associated with fewer risk behaviors over time (Padilla-Walker, & Son, 2019). Here, we tested a model linking parent substance use to adolescent risk behaviors, as mediated by parent-child conflict and closeness and as moderated by parent gender.
The present study utilizes data collected in August of 2022 from 452 parents of adolescent children (ages 14 to 17 years old), collected via an online sampling service. Two-thirds of the participants in the current sample identified as female (63%; 76% White only and 84% identified as heterosexual). The sample was relatively high-income, with 1/3 of the sample earning $100,000 or more per year in household income, and 66% were employed full-time. The majority (89%) were biological parents to the target child and married or living with a partner (75%). We obtained parent reports of their own recent substance use (use in the last 30 days), use of negative conflict strategies with the child (Canary et al., 1988), parent-child relationship difficulties and closeness (CPRS; Pianta, 1992), and adolescent engagement in risk behaviors in the last year (Add Health and Fragile Families surveys).
An initial, unmoderated model fit the data extremely well (Figure 1), χ2(2) = 1.26, p = .53, NFI = .997, RMSEA = .00. Parent problematic alcohol use was significantly positively associated with parent-reported adolescent risk behaviors, and parent use of other substances in the last month was marginally associated with risk behaviors. Parent alcohol use was positively associated with use of negative conflict strategies during parent-child conflict, but not overall parent-child relationship difficulties; parent substance use was not associated with conflict or relationship difficulties. Parent-child relationship difficulties and negative conflict strategies in turn were negatively associated with parent-child closeness, and, interestingly, closeness was positively associated with adolescent risk behavior. Parent-child conflict and relationship difficulties also were directly associated with adolescent risk behavior. Testing for moderation by parent gender revealed that an unconstrained model best fit the data; three paths significantly differed across mothers and fathers (dashed lines in Figure 1). Implications of the findings will be discussed.

Authors

• Kari Adamsons, University of Connecticut
  Presenting Author

• Beth S Russell, University of Connecticut

• Yuyang Hu, University of Connecticut