ADOLESCENT MODELING OF PARENT SUBSTANCE USE - THE MODERATING EFFECT OF THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PARENT

This study examined a hypothesis derived from social learning theory, that adolescents would be more likely to model the substance use of ea ch parent if they had a relatively good relationship with the parent t han if their relationship with that parent was relatively poor. Data f rom 657 adolescents (51% female; 11 to 15 years of age at the Ist asse ssment), 357 fathers, and 633 mothers across a 6-year assessment perio d were used for these analyses. As hypothesized, all adolescents model ed mother's cigarette use and father's marijuana use, older adolescent s modeled mother's marijuana use and younger girls and older boys mode led father's alcohol use if they had a relatively good or moderate rel ationship with that parent but did not model their parent's use if the relationship with that parent was relatively poor. Caution is noted i n assuming that relatively good relationships with a parent are always protective.