A survey of teenage perception of parental influence on alcohol consumption

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive study was to describe the level of parental influence in teenage non-drinkers reported by high school teenagers in a rural high school consisting of approximately 400 students. Statistics of teenage drinking continue to grow with each generation. Teenagers have role models and literature shows that most often their role models are their parents. Alcohol is misused by teenagers more than any other age group. This study focused on the role that parents play in that misuse. Parents often send mixed messages by telling their children the harms of alcohol use, but then consume alcohol themselves. Often times parents supply alcohol for their teenagers for the reason that they feel their teenagers will drink anyway. This study focused on the level of parental influence on those teenagers that choose not to cower to peer pressure and avoid alcohol use. This study focused on the following objectives: 1. To determine the current level of parental influence in teenagers that choose not to consume alcohol. 2. To determine the level of influence of mixed messages experienced by teenagers about consumption of alcohol. 3. To determine the current level of other factors that influence teenagers not to consume alcohol. A self-created survey called Various Influences of Teenage Drinking Survey was used to gather information from high school teenagers to determine what parental factors, if any, play a role in their decision to not consume alcohol. All of 84 seniors of the class of 2000 enrolled at the Cumberland High School program in the Cumberland School District located in Cumberland, Wisconsin were identified as the sample for this study. Cumberland School District is a small district located in northwestern Wisconsin with approximately 1200 students K-12. The Various Influences of Teenage Drinking Survey was handed out during the school day and collected immediately after completion. The results of the Various Influences of Teenage Drinking Survey showed a large percentage think their parents are influential in their decision making. In addition, the survey showed that parents are sending mixed messages to their children about consuming alcohol. Some parents send mixed messages by using the old adage, "Do as I say and not as I do", while others tell their children they do not want them to drink, but will come help them out in the chance that their children do get intoxicated. Finally, other factors, such as peers, school and media play a role in influencing teenagers and alcohol, but only a small percentage. Parents are playing an influential role in the lives of their children. Some parents are positive role models while others are sadly negative role models. The original hypothesis of this study was that the reason teenagers make the decision to not consume alcohol is caused by the influence from their parent(s)/guardian(s) that are positive role models and abstain from drinking alcohol. This is only somewhat true and sometimes results in just the opposite. If parents choose to be submissive when it comes to their teens and drinking alcohol, the chances increase that their teens will at one time, or more often, be involved with this governed drug. On the other hand, if parents persist in being positive role models by drinking moderately, or never at all, their teens have a greater chance of lessening their involvement with alcohol.