Effects of Parenting during Adolescence on Youth Drug and Sexual Experimentation in Emerging Adulthood

• In Event: Poster Session 06
  In Poster Session: PS 06 Topic - Parenting & Parent-Child Relationships

Abstract

Authoritative parenting styles are often identified as most effective for producing well-adjusted youth (Baumrind, 1991). However, some research has suggested that effective parenting may include a mix of parenting styles that make nearly equal use of authoritative and authoritarian behaviors, and less use of permissive behaviors (McKinney et al., 2016). Research has yet to determine, however, how specific authoritative/authoritarian parenting values and behaviors during adolescence may predict effective long-term parenting outcomes. This study thus seeks to examine two examples of such behaviors during adolescence as predictors of drug use and sexual behavior at age 21: 1) parents’ values of conformity to rules, and, 2) parents’ firm vs. lax behavioral control. Given the aforementioned findings that higher levels of both authoritative and authoritarian behaviors may be important predictors of positive adjustment, it was hypothesized that the most robust predictors of less risky behavior in emerging adulthood would come from parenting which both values conformity to rules and uses firmer behavioral control during adolescence.

Data for this study were obtained from a community sample of 184 adolescents (86 males, 98 females) at ages 13, 18, and 21. The sample was demographically diverse (63% European-American, 27% African-American, and 14% mixed race or other race/ethnicities; baseline median family income was within $40,000 - $59,000 range). Mothers and fathers independently reported their values of conformity to rules via the Parental Values Measure at teen age 13, and independently reported their use of firm vs. lax behavioral control with their teens at age 18 via the Childhood Report of Parenting Behavior. At age 21, teens responded to various questions regarding substance use and sexual behaviors via the Alcohol and Drug questionnaire and Sexual Experiences Questionnaire (outcomes depicted in Figure 1).

Hypotheses were tested using hierarchical regression analyses, controlling for participant gender and household income. Results indicated that mothers’ (but not fathers’) values of teen conformity at age 13 predicted a lower likelihood of emerging adults believing it was okay to have sex with someone they did not know, and a lower likelihood of ever having used hard drugs (see Figure 1). There were no direct effects from firm vs. lax control to outcome variables. However, there were two significant interactions. Mothers who highly valued teen conformity and used more firm control predicted a lower likelihood that emerging adults used protection while having sex, relative to mothers who used more lax control (see Figure 2). Fathers who highly valued teen conformity and used more firm control predicted a lower likelihood that emerging adults had sex in the past year, relative to fathers who used more lax control. However, the pattern of least risky behavior for these outcomes was associated with parenting that was higher on one behavior and lower on the other. Results will be discussed in terms of how high expectations of adherence to parental rules/control may result in riskier future behavior as compared to parenting that also allows some trust in their child to make reasonable choices.

Authors

• David E. Szwedo, James Madison University
  Presenting Author

• Marissa Rose Sariol-Clough, University of Maryland - College Park
  Non-Presenting Author

• Emily Navina Shah, James Madison University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Emme Lis, James Madison University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Lauren Alexander, James Madison University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Joseph P Allen, University of Virginia - Charlottesville
  Non-Presenting Author