Parents not peer pressure responsible for binge drinking

A significant link has been discovered between the extent that parents encourage drinking and both drinking frequency and intensity, challenging the view that peer pressure is mainly to blame for the increasing levels of alcohol consumption amongst young people.

The research, which was carried out by Dr John Marsden and colleagues from the Institute of Psychiatry, was published in the September 2005 issue of the British Journal of Developmental Psychology.

The study involved 540 students aged 15-16, both male and female. Participants were asked to complete a structured questionnaire which recorded alcohol involvement, other substance use, perceived parental alcohol use and related factors, alcohol related attitudes and beliefs, psychological wellbeing, social and peer behaviours, and school conduct problems. Two follow-up questionnaires were administered at 9 and 18 months following recruitment.

It was found that there was a significant link between the extent that parents were seen to be encouraging drinking, and both drinking frequency and intensity. More frequent parental discouragement to drink was also related to more frequent drinking in females but to less frequent drinking in males, suggesting that either there is a tendency for girls to rebel more strongly against their parents attitudes towards alcohol use, or that parents are more likely to disapprove of drinking in their daughters, and hence discourage alcohol more strongly. On average the participants were 14 years old when they first drank without parental knowledge.

The research also discovered that a number of young people drink to alter their mood with 51% of participants saying they drank to relax, and 34% drinking to forget about a problem. Social reasons for drinking were also important with 63% drinking to enjoy company of friends, and 48% drinking to lose inhibitions. By the age of 13 most young people have consumed a whole alcoholic drink, and by 15 twofifths drink every week, with many consuming 4.7 units on a typical drinking day.

Dr Marsden said, “The potential feasibility and benefits of including parents as part of education programmes in school should be examined. The possibility of encouraging parents to consider how their own behaviour and attitudes towards drinking might influence the choices regarding alcohol use that are made by their offspring should be explored. Given the high prevalence of drinking involvement in mid-adolescence, understanding the influences on the further development of drinking attitudes and behaviours is of critical importance”.

The authors argue that the research underlines the importance of addressing personal, family, peer and school conduct factors in school-based alcohol education programmes.