Perceived parental practices related to alcohol use by 16 to 18 year old adolescents in the public high schools in the Emawaleni District of KwaZulu-Natal.
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Date
2009
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Abstract
Introduction: A quantitative cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess whether
parenting practices regarding alcohol use (as perceived by 16-18 year old adolescents)
are determinants of alcohol use by the adolescents. Parental practices include
supervision, emotional support and parenting alcohol socialization behaviours that
could influence adolescents' alcohol use behaviour.
Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of perceived parental
practices and alcohol use behaviour among 16-18 year old adolescents in public high
schools in the Emawaleni District, KwaZulu-Natal.
Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used. Self-administered questionnaires
provided data from 704 adolescents enrolled in public high schools Data were
processed using SPSS 15.0. (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois). Scale reliability analyses
were conducted and frequencies on all items calculated. Chi-square tests were used to
assess associations between adolescent alcohol use and demographic variables.
Logistical regression analyses explored the associations between the different
demographic variables, adolescents' perceptions of parental practices and alcohol use
behaviours.
Results: The results indicated that the most significant others that affect the
adolescents' drinking behaviour are parents (51.3%) and peers (33.8%). It was
revealed that peers (40.1%) and parents (12.9%) offered the first alcoholic drink to
adolescents. Age of alcohol use initiation was found to be as early as 13 years. It was
found that mothers who communicated the risks of drinking (84.2%), and it is also
mothers (36.9%) who inform adolescents of safe drinking practices. Eighty-two
percent of parents are aware of adolescents' whereabouts. Regarding peer
connectedness, 86% of the adolescents who drank alcohol felt that they could depend
on peers when drunk and 77% of adolescents reported that they discouraged their
peers from getting drunk. The best predictors of adolescent alcohol use were:
younger age, being male, race (White), religiosity, parental and peer alcohol use.
Discussion: The evidence demonstrated a basic understanding of the processes by
which parents influence adolescent alcohol use behaviours. Although the study
showed a stronger parental protective factor than reported in other studies, the
influence of the peers in the adolescents' development is also consistent with that of
other studies.
Recommendations: Adequate interventions for adolescents are urgently needed to
improve parenting skills in order to prevent risky adolescent alcohol use behaviours.
Description
Thesis (M.Med.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2009.
Keywords
Adolescents--Alcohol use--KwaZulu-Natal., Alcoholism--Health aspects., Theses--Public health medicine.