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01-10-2016

Being Blunt About Marijuana: Parent Communication About Marijuana with Their Emerging Adult Children

Authors: Lucy E. Napper, Nicole M. Froidevaux, Joseph W. LaBrie

Published in: Prevention Science | Issue 7/2016

Abstract

While research suggests that parents continue to influence students’ marijuana use after matriculation to college, there is limited data examining how parents communicate about marijuana use and what impact parent marijuana communication has on college student outcomes. The aim of the current study is to investigate the types of parent marijuana messages that college students receive and the relationship between parent communication and students’ marijuana attitudes and behaviors. Students (N = 506) completed a survey assessing marijuana approval, use, negative consequences, and parent communication. A factor analysis of parent communication items yielded three factors: risk communication, permissive communication, and marijuana use communication. Risk communication was the most common form of communication. In multivariate models, risk communication was associated with increased odds of a student remaining abstinent but not with frequency of marijuana use or negative consequences. Greater permissive communication was associated with more approving student attitudes, greater odds of non-abstinence, more frequent use in the past year, and more negative consequences. These findings highlight the need to consider the different types of messages parents deliver when designing interventions aimed at engaging parents in marijuana prevention efforts.

Our classification system was based, in part, on how marijuana users typically self-identified. For example, in the current sample, all students who reported that they self-identified as a moderate or heavy marijuana user also reported using marijuana at least twice a month.

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Title: Being Blunt About Marijuana: Parent Communication About Marijuana with Their Emerging Adult Children
Authors: Lucy E. Napper
Nicole M. Froidevaux
Joseph W. LaBrie
Publication date: 01-10-2016
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Prevention Science / Issue 7/2016
Print ISSN: 1389-4986
Electronic ISSN: 1573-6695
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-016-0681-0

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Being Blunt About Marijuana: Parent Communication About Marijuana with Their Emerging Adult Children

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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