MATERNAL SOCIALIZATION OF ADOLESCENT SMOKING - THE INTERGENERATIONAL TRANSMISSION OF PARENTING AND SMOKING

A longitudinal multigenerational design was used to examine the interg enerational transmission of smoking and the correlated transmission of parental support and control. Whether maternal socialization of adole scent smoking (both general parenting practices and smoking-specific s trategies) would predict adolescent smoking both directly and indirect ly by affecting peer affiliations was tested. There was strong evidenc e for the intergenerational transmission of cigarette smoking and for the relation between peer smoking and adolescent smoking. Both general parenting practices and smoking-specific discussion and punishment we re significantly related to adolescents' smoking, especially for adole scent-reported parenting. Support for the intergenerational transmissi on of parenting practices emerged only in mothers' reports of support. Results suggest expanding current peer-focused prevention efforts to include parental socialization strategies.