Does parental permissiveness toward cigarette smoking and alcohol use influence illicit drug use among adolescents? A longitudinal study in seven European countries

• DOI: 10.1007/s00127-021-02118-5
• Publication Date: 2021-06-13T13:02:36Z
• Authors: Emina Mehanović; Federica Vigna-Ta...; Fabrizio Faggiano; Maria Rosaria Gal...; ; Barbara Zunino; Federica Vigna-Ta...; Gian Luca Cuomo; Serena Vadrucci; Silena Salmaso; Karl Bohrn; Sebastian Bohrn; Erwin Coppens; Yannick Weyts; Peer van der Kreeft; Johan Jongbloet; Juan Carlos Melero; Tatiana Perez; Laura Varona; Oihana Rementeria; Gudrun Wiborg; Maro Vassara; Maria Kyriakidou; Gabriela Terzopoulou; Sara Sanchez; Charlotte Jansson; Maria Rosaria Gal...; Fabrizio Faggiano; Leila Fabiani; Maria Scatigna
• Keywords: Male; Parents; Permissiveness; Adolescent; Alcohol Drinking; Substance-Related Disorders; Mediator; 610; 613; Cigarette Smoking; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; 5. Gender equality; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Child; Illicit drug use; Original Paper; Illicit Drugs; Gender; Parental permissiveness; 3. Good health; Cross-Sectional Studies; Adolescent Behavior; Adolescents; Gender; Illicit drug use; Longitudinal study; Mediators; Parental permissiveness; Female; Longitudinal study

Abstract Purpose Adolescents’ perceptions of parental norms may influence their substance use. The relationship between parental norms toward cigarette and alcohol use, and the use of illicit substances among their adolescent children is not sufficiently investigated. The purpose of this study was to analyze this relationship, including gender differences, using longitudinal data from a large population-based study.

Methods The present study analyzed longitudinal data from 3171 12- to 14-year-old students in 7 European countries allocated to the control arm of the European Drug Addiction Prevention trial. The impact of parental permissiveness toward cigarettes and alcohol use reported by the students at baseline on illicit drug use at 6-month follow-up was analyzed through multilevel logistic regression models, stratified by gender. Whether adolescents’ own use of cigarette and alcohol mediated the association between parental norms and illicit drug use was tested through mediation models.

Results Parental permissive norms toward cigarette smoking and alcohol use at baseline predicted adolescents’ illicit drug use at follow-up. The association was stronger among boys than among girls and was mediated by adolescents’ own cigarette and alcohol use.

Conclusion Perceived parental permissiveness toward the use of legal drugs predicted adolescents’ use of illicit drugs, especially among boys. Parents should be made aware of the importance of norm setting, and supported in conveying clear messages of disapproval of all substances.