The Protective and Risk Effects of Parents and Peers on the Substance Use Attitudes and Behaviors

Adolescent substance use is a major concern for parents, behavioral health-practitioners, researchers and government policymakers because it places individuals at risk for numerous health, legal, and developmental concerns (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2003). This study explores the extent to which parental and peer behaviors and norms may affect substance use, personal anti-drug norms and intentions to use drugs among Mexican-heritage preadolescents in the Southwest, and whether these parental and peer influences differ according to gender. Secondary data from a randomized trial of a drug prevention program was used. The sample consisted of 2,733 adolescents. The outcomes were recent alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use, personal anti-drug norms and intentions to use drugs. OLS regressions demonstrated that the first parental permissiveness measures -- allowing the adolescent to drink alcohol at parties – predicted greater alcohol use for boys and girls, and greater cigarette use and weaker anti-drug personal norms for girls. The second parental permissiveness measure – allowing the adolescent to go out whenever he or she wants – predicted greater alcohol use and weaker anti-drug norms for girls only, greater marijuana use for girls and boys, and stronger intentions to use for boys. Anti-drug parental injunctive norms predicted all of the outcomes for both boys and girls:less use of substances, weaker anti-drug norms, and weaker use-intentions. However, the effect on cigarette and marijuana use was stronger for boys than girls. The perception of more widespread substance use among school peers was associated with weaker anti-drug norms, stronger intentions to use, and more use of substances for both genders; however, this factor's effect on marijuana use was stronger for boys than girls. The perception that one's friends use drugs significantly predicted alcohol and marijuana use and intentions to use among females. Among males it predicted greater use of all three substances, stronger intentions to use, and weaker anti-drug personal norms. Again, the effect on marijuana use was stronger for boys than girls, as indicated by the significant gender interaction. Stronger friends' injunctive norms predicted less substance use, regardless of the specific substance, stronger anti-drug personal norms, and less intentions to use for both males and females. However, the effect on alcohol use and use intentions was stronger for girls whereas the effect on marijuana use was stronger for boys. The effect on the other outcomes did not differ by gender.

In summary, peer variables were more consistently related to the outcomes than parent variables, with the exception of parental injunctive norms which were the most predictive parent factor. This finding of strong peer effects among pre-adolescents of Mexican heritage is consistent with prior literature that documents the growing influence of peers relative to parents during adolescence (Steinberg et al., 1992; Hartup, 1983). Possible explanations for the findings are discussed in the context of cultural values, and acculturation pressures in Mexican American families. Recommendations are provided to further study the protective processes that are maintained through the transition into adolescence and acculturation as a foundation for the design of resiliency-focused prevention interventions.