A new study found that adolescents' closeness to parents and perceptions of parental cannabis use impact their attitudes toward the drug. The corresponding study was published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies.
Teenagers in Washington State have grown up in an environment where their parents have been legally able to purchase and consume cannabis products. Understanding the role of parental cannabis use and parental monitoring on adolescents' beliefs about cannabis could inform effective communication strategies for discussing drug use.
In the current study, researchers collected online survey data from 276 adolescents aged 13- 17 years old from Washington state. Data included questions about their perceptions of parental cannabis use, how close they are to their parents, and levels of parental monitoring.
Ultimately, the researchers found that 32% of adolescents believed that their fathers used cannabis, while 25% thought their mothers did. Perceptions of parental use were strongly linked to less negative attitudes towards the substance and more intentions to use it.
The researchers further found that parental closeness affected attitudes, but that the effects varied by gender. Closeness to fathers was linked to more positive attitudes towards cannabis use, regardless of whether or not the father used cannabis. Meanwhile, closeness to mothers who used cannabis was linked to more positive attitudes and stronger intentions to use the substance, whereas closeness to mothers who were non-users was linked to less intention to use the substance.
The researchers further found that boys who reported more parental monitoring- assessed by parents knowing their whereabouts and who their friends were- expressed more negative attitudes towards cannabis use than girls with similar levels of supervision.
In a press release, two of the researchers behind this study noted that the overall message is that open, honest discussions about cannabis alongside consistent monitoring could reduce adolescents' likelihood of positively regarding the substance or intending to use it.
In future work, the researchers hope to investigate how parents communicate with adolescents about substance use, and to explore areas such as the role of parental warmth and closeness in having effective conversations about cannabis and other health-related behaviors.