Aim: To assess, in the context of other socialization factors, importance of alcohol specific parenting practices for adolescents drinking behaviors.
Method: Questionnaire data collected from the random sample of Warsaw 15-year old students (N = 984) on: alcohol use and getting drunk, perception of parental rules and attitudes toward alcohol use by a child, child’s monitoring and support by parents, school climate and support by peers.
Results: Logistic regression analysis confirmed that parental disapproval of alcohol use by teenagers and setting clear rules forbidding alcohol use are significant protective factors. Among adolescents who already drink, the risk of getting drunk is lower if they communicate openly with parents about their alcohol related behaviors. Parental factors seem to be more significant for girls than for boys and for those who have not initiate alcohol use yet.
Conclusions: More research and preventive activities is needed to strengthen parents in their alcohol specific parenting behaviors.
