Parent–adolescent conflict interactions and adolescent alcohol use

ObjectiveOne important factor in adolescents' development of problem alcohol use is their family environment. Yet, the mechanisms that relate parenting to youth alcohol use are not well characterized. This study employed a naturalistic laboratory-based approach to observe parenting behaviors (support, structure, criticism) and adolescents' physiological and emotional responses to parent–adolescent interactions to examine associations with adolescent alcohol use.MethodFifty eight 10–16 year olds and their parents completed a 10 minute Parent Adolescent Interaction Task (PAIT) in which they discussed a mutually highly-rated conflict topic. Parental support, structure, and criticism were coded from the interaction. Adolescents' heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), reported emotions, and salivary cortisol were assessed before, during, and after the interaction.ResultsFindings indicated that lower parental structure and support were associated with youth's greater diastolic BP and anger arousal in response to the PAIT. Furthermore, higher HR, systolic BP, and cortisol responses to the interaction were associated with youth's alcohol use.ConclusionsFindings suggest that heightened emotional and physiological responses to parent–adolescent conflict interactions in youth may be one pathway by which parenting is associated with adolescent alcohol use and risk for abuse.

► We observed parent–adolescent conflict interactions.
► We examined links between adolescent responses to interactions and alcohol use.
► Negative parenting predicted higher blood pressure and anger response.
► Higher heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol response were linked to alcohol use.
► Responses to family conflict may play a role in initiation of addictive behavior.