The Indirect Effects of Targeted Parent-Child Communication Against Substance Use On Latino and European American Youth's Intentions to Intervene in a Friend's Substance Use

Introduction: Recent Monitoring the Future data revealed that Latino and European American 8^th grade students reported the highest rates of alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use. Among various approaches to substance use prevention, primary socialization theory (PST) has received empirical support for theorizing parents and friends as pro- or anti-substance use socialization agents. PST, however, provides little specificity regarding how exactly parents and friends shape such beliefs and behaviors. More recently, prevention researchers have emphasized the importance of substance-use-specific communication, also known as targeted parent-child communication against substance use. PST often conceptualizes parents as protective agents, while treating friends as sources of negative influences. The latter often occurs, but due to the nature of friendships, some youth may actually prevent and/or intervene in their friends’ substance use when youth have developed anti-substance use beliefs from communicating with their parents. Thus, this study: (1) examines whether targeted parent-child communication against substance use can benefit Latino and European American youth by promoting greater anti-substance use beliefs, and (2) determines whether such communication can indirectly benefit Latino and European American youth’s friends by encouraging Latino and European American youth to intervene if a friend used substances.

Method: Self-reported longitudinal survey data were collected from Latino (n = 277) and European American (n = 350) students in 6^th- 8^th grades, attending one of three participating Illinois public schools.

Results: Multigroup mediation analyses revealed that the proposed indirect effects did not differ by ethnicity. As both Latino and European American youth engaged in targeted mother-child communication against substance use, they were more likely to develop parent anti-substance use injunctive norms, and in turn, more likely to report anti-substance use personal norms, attitudes, and refusal efficacy. Thus, they reported increased intentions to talk to their friend or seek help if their friend used substances. As Latino and European American youth engaged in targeted father-child communication against substance use, they reported increased anti-substance use attitudes, and in turn, greater intentions to talk to a friend if he/she used substances.

Implications: This study identifies specific messages that Latino and European American parents can incorporate to promote anti-substance use beliefs, which may in turn, have beneficial carry over effects for their offspring’s friends. This result demonstrates the important role that parents play as substance use prevention agents for youth. The findings also reveal factors that may motivate youth to intervene in a friend’s substance use.