Parental communication appears not to be an effective strategy to reduce smoking in a sample of Dutch adolescents |
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Authors: | Z. Harakeh R. Engels E. Den Exter Blokland R. Scholte A. Vermulst |
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Affiliation: | 1. Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University , Utrecht, Netherlands z.harakeh@uu.nl;3. Behavioural Science Institute, Radboud University Nijmegen , Netherlands;4. Department of Child &5. Adolescent Studies , University , Utrecht, Netherlands |
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Abstract: | This longitudinal study examined the reciprocal effects of the frequency of parent–adolescent communication on tobacco-related issues (smoking-specific communication), and adolescents’ smoking. Participants were 428 Dutch older and younger siblings between 13 and 16 years old. Smoking-specific communication did not affect youth smoking in general; however, among younger, but not older, siblings, smoking-specific communication was associated with a higher likelihood of smoking over time. In addition, when adolescents already smoked parents started to talk more frequently about smoking-related issues with their older and younger adolescents later on. Neither the quality of smoking-specific communication, the quality of parent–adolescent relationship, nor parental smoking moderated these reciprocal effects. In conclusion, prevention campaigns encouraging parents to undertake smoking-specific communication might not be desirable. |
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Keywords: | adolescent smoking smoking-specific parenting communication |
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