Parent Knowledge of Marijuana Use in Emerging Adulthood

Introduction: Emerging adulthood is a developmental period marked by various transitions, including changes in the parent-child relationship characterized by more mutuality and less parental monitoring. Emerging adults (EAs) remain at peak risk for most types of substance use, perhaps due to the instability of this time period. For many EAs, family relationships continue to serve as a primary source of support, both instrumentally and emotionally. Healthy parent-child relationships during this period are protective for some young adults and reduce risk behavior. Parent knowledge of substance use plays a role in the development of EA risk behaviors. Very little research has been conducted on how family relationships, including parent knowledge of marijuana use, impact the development of marijuana use in EAs, despite the fact heavy marijuana use is associated with a number of negative outcomes in EA. The current study investigates the construct of parent knowledge of marijuana use.

Methods: The study sample includes 470 ethnically diverse EAs (19-23 years of age) and their caregivers drawn from a larger study investigating a family-centered substance use preventive intervention. The current study evaluates the construct of parent knowledge of marijuana use. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to test the fit of a parental relationship quality latent construct based on four indicants of parent knowledge of substance use, family cohesion, frequency of parent–child communication, and quality of parent-child communication, using MLE procedures.

Results: Results from the analyses suggest that parents are likely to underestimate EA’s marijuana use. Additionally, parent knowledge of marijuana use is a promising indicant in a latent construct of parental relationship quality also comprised of family cohesion, frequency of parent–child communication, and quality of parent-child communication.

Conclusions: When evaluating parent’s knowledge of marijuana use, researchers should take care to note that parents are likely to underestimate their EAs marijuana use. Additionally, the construct of parent knowledge of marijuana use should be considered when using a latent construct of parental relationship quality. Finally, results from the current study underscore the need to further explore parenting behaviors in EA and how they contribute to EA marijuana use outcomes.