Juvenile alcoholism remains a significant social and public health problem in society. According to recent research dubbed The National Comorbid Study in the United States, 78.2% of the juveniles had consumed alcohol by the time they reached late adolescence (Marshall, 2014). As such, this is a crisis that risks jeopardizing the health and lives of young members of society. The risk factors for teenage alcoholism have been well-documented. Examples include poor parenting, low socioeconomic conditions, parental alcohol consumption, and family structure among others. However, little attention has been placed on protective factors against juvenile alcohol consumption. Adequate parental support has been suggested as one of the most effective ways of protecting children against drug abuse. A strong social and behavioral support from the parents means that children’s behaviors are monitored and good behaviors are transmitted to the children. Strong family support, characterized by parental management, monitoring, and awareness, reduces juvenile alcoholism due to proper modeling of the child’s behaviors.
Research Question
To what extent does family support prevent juveniles from engaging in alcohol consumption?
Hypotheses
• Parental management ensures that the juvenile acquires positive behaviors and drops the negative ones.
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• Through parental monitoring and increased awareness, parents can mitigate and thwart any alcoholic behaviors.
• Positive parental behaviors such as non-alcohol consumption mean that the children are well-poised to stay away from alcoholism.
Literature Review
According to Carvajal & Lerma-Cabrera (2015), alcohol is the most used and abused drug across the globe. The last few years have seen a rapid increase in alcohol consumption among the juvenile. The general definition of a juvenile is any young person that is yet to reach adulthood. Mainly, it consists of individuals between the range of 10 and 18 years. As the juveniles approach adulthood, they highly engaged in experimentation as they try to establish their own identities. According to the authors, many juveniles engage in binge drinking behavior characterized by the massive consumption of alcohol within a short period primary for leisure. Underage alcohol consumption has become a significant public health concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) considers underage alcohol consumption as a serious public health concern due to the disease burden it places on the health industry (Silva & Padilha, 2013). The authors further draw a relationship between alcohol consumption in juvenile and familial exposure.
In light of this argument, Muchiri & dos Santos (2018) say, “Family relations and their influence on substance use can be viewed either in terms of connectedness or conflict.” Reported alcohol consumption in parents and family conflicts are some of the factors that contribute to teenage alcoholism. Individuals who engage in binging before attaining the age of 15 are four times more likely to sink into alcohol dependence. More importantly, it acts as an antecedent for future alcoholism heading into adulthood. A National Comorbid Study in the United States, 78.2% of the juveniles had consumed alcohol by the time they reached late adolescence (Marshall, 2014). Thus, with familial exposure being one of the risk factors, many researchers believe that levering strong family support system is the primary protective factor against juvenile alcoholism. The importance of the family as a protective factor against drug abuse cannot be underestimated. Kopak et al. (2012) say, “Research has identified the family as a significant source of protection against drug and alcohol abuse among adolescents.”
The enhancement of healthy family relationships means that the parents can transmit prosocial norms and behaviors to their children. Also, parents have the chance to sanction undesirable behaviors among adolescents, substance abuse being one of them. The authors further note that positive parental attachment has been identified as a protective factor not only against alcohol consumption but also illicit drug use (Kopak et al., 2012). Additionally, increased parental level of attentiveness to the behaviors of the teenagers via the use of monitoring techniques could effectively reduce the use of substances. The use of techniques such as Multidimensional Family therapy (MDFT) has widespread impacts including preventing delinquency and alcohol abuse among juveniles. In supporting parental involvement as a protective factor, Muchiri & dos Santos, (2018) say, “Increase in either parent to parent conflict, or parent to offspring conflict, has been shown to increase the risk of developing a substance use disorder.”
Ngamije & Yadufashije (2017) discuss a model known as the Social Development Model (SDM) which asserts that children and adolescents acquire patterns of behavior from their socialization with the parents. Although the SDM model explains how antisocial behaviors such as alcohol consumption can be transmitted, it also suggests the protective ways. When parents establish a robust social support network characterized by positive behaviors, their children are also likely to borrow the same characteristics. When discussing the role of the family in preventing juvenile alcohol consumption, it is also critical to assess the importance of the family structure. Research has found out that children residing with single-parents are more likely to engage in alcohol abuse compared to their counterparts with both parents. Children living in lower-income families are also more likely to abuse alcohol than their counterparts. Therefore, when leveraging strong social support, all these factors should be taken into consideration.
Annotated Bibliography
Muchiri, B. W., & dos Santos, M. M. (2018). Family management risk and protective factors for adolescent substance use in South Africa. Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy, 13(1), 24.
The scholarly article discusses the health implications associated with alcohol consumption among the juveniles. However, with the use of most appropriate protective factors, it is possible to limit the exposure of adolescents to alcohol and its accompanying effects. The authors assert that weakened family relations are the primary cause of unwanted behaviors among juveniles leading to alcohol consumption. As a protective factor, the authors suggest favorable family relationships and bonds as the cornerstone of solving substance use problems. The article helps the research by indicating the family as a protective factor against teenage alcoholism.
Ngamije, J., & Yadufashije, D. (2017). Risk and Protective factors for alcohol and other drug use (AOD) among adolescents in Rubavu district, Rwanda. Risk and Protective Factors for Alcohol and Other Drug Use (AOD) Among Adolescents in Rubavu District, Rwanda (September 12, 2017).
The journal article discusses a theoretical model that could be used to prevent alcohol consumption among adolescents. The concept suggested is known as the Social Development Model (SDM). The SDM indicates that children and adolescents acquire behaviors by interacting with their social environments. Children growing with alcoholic parents will also end up as alcoholics. The same model can be used to explain the transmission of positive behaviors from parents to their children. Therefore, by using this model, the article provides a platform upon which juveniles can stop alcohol consumption.
Kopak, A. M., Chen, A. C. C., Haas, S. A., & Gillmore, M. R. (2012). The importance of family factors to protect against substance use-related problems among Mexican heritage and White youth. Drug and alcohol dependence, 124(1-2), 34-41.
The scholarly journal also discusses the importance of the family as a fundamental protective factor against juvenile alcoholism. Healthy family relationships mean that the parents are in a pole position to transmit prosocial attributes. Parental attentiveness to the behaviors of the children places them in a pole position to identify unwanted behaviors. The authors also come up with a model known as Multidimensional Family therapy (MDFT), which can prevent juvenile delinquency and alcohol consumption among adolescents. The article adds to the research by illuminating several family strategies and their protective impact on juvenile alcohol usage.
Eitle, T. M., Johnson-Jennings, M., & Eitle, D. J. (2013). Family structure and adolescent alcohol use problems: Extending popular explanations to American Indians. Social science research, 42(6), 1467-1479.
The research article looks at the impact of family structure on juvenile alcohol consumption. According to the author, the family structure is a determinant that determines the overall behavior of the child as far as juvenile alcoholism is concerned. Children growing in single-parent families including the orphaned, are more likely to enter into alcohol consumption. In most cases, single-parent and orphaned children tend to suffer the effects of low socioeconomic conditions thus predisposing them to unwanted behaviors. The article, therefore, adds to the research by explaining the importance of family stability in preventing teenage alcoholism.
Carvajal, F., & Lerma-Cabrera, J. M. (2015). Alcohol Consumption among Adolescents — Implications for Public Health. Topics in Public Health. Doi: 10.5772/58930
The journal article provides a statistical assessment of juvenile alcohol consumption. It also offers broader health implications as mentioned by global leaders such as the WHO. Adolescents are more likely to engage in binge drinking than any other age group. The authors also provide an essential developmental analysis to justify the behaviors of the juveniles as they prepare to transition to adulthood. Most importantly, they address the consequences of juvenile alcoholism that include unsafe sexual behavior, criminal and aggressive behavior, and suicidal ideation among others. The article provides a general overview of alcoholism and its impact on juveniles.
Silva, S. É. D. D., & Padilha, M. I. (2013). Alcoholism in adolescents' life histories: an analysis in the light of social representations. Texto & Contexto-Enfermagem, 22(3), 576-584.
The article provides a relationship between familial alcohol consumption and the onset of alcoholism among the juveniles. The general claim is that children from alcohol-abusing families are at an increased risk of developing similar behaviors. Also, the consumption of alcohol in children acts as an antecedent to future usage in adulthood. Therefore, by illuminating the concept of social representation, the article discusses the cyclic nature of alcohol consumption in juveniles. The source justifies the impact of the family on the alcoholic behaviors of their children.
Marshall, E. J. (2014). Adolescent alcohol use: risks and consequences. Alcohol and alcoholism, 49(2), 160-164.
The research article aims to discuss the statistical implications of underage alcohol consumption. It primarily looks at the risks and the possible consequences of alcoholism among adolescents. Among the risk factors, the author describes the familial implications including the impact of weak family ties and lack of parental guidance. Thus, the article will help the research by illuminating the prevalence of alcoholism among adolescents, the risk, and associated consequences.
Methodology
The methodology used in this research is referred to as exploratory research. The principle investigator focused on the interviewing of adolescents (between the age of 10 and 18) with a history of substance abuse. The participants for this study were taken from rehabilitation centers in New York, Washington DC, and Los Angeles. The sampling period began on April 2019 and went all through to August 2019. The Ethical Board approved the study at California State University. Sixty-three respondents participated in the study including 44 males and 18 females. Using stratified random sampling, the participants were drawn from different racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Informed consent was required because the juveniles were considered to lack autonomy. The variables measured for this research include background variables, family management, parental monitoring, parental rewards, and parental alcohol use. By collecting the information, the goal was to assess the extent to which a lack of family support contributed to the children’s alcohol abuse.
Results
70% of the participants reported poor parental management in their responses. Parental management tested variables such as parental awareness, direction, and discipline. On the other hand, 77% of the participants reported a lack of parental monitoring. Here, monitoring looked at variables such as the parent’s knowledge of the child’s behaviors and whereabouts during their free time. 42% of the respondents reported the presence of parental rewards whenever they did something positive. The rest reported a lack of a reward for their positive behaviors, notwithstanding. 50% of the participants reported that their parents consumed alcohol.
Discussion
The age of the participants in the study ranged from 10 to 18. The researcher assumed that the age group is characterized by the desire for freedom and experimentation of various aspects of their lives. The researcher aimed to assess the impact of family support as a protective factor against juvenile alcohol consumption. The questionnaires were fashioned in a way that would examine several aspects and variables that make up the family support. They include parental management, parental monitoring, parental rewards, and the behavior of the parents as far as alcohol consumption was concerned. More than half of the respondents said that parental management and parental monitoring was poor prior to their institutionalization. Less than half of the respondents also pointed out a lack of parental reward whenever they engaged in positive behavior. Half of the participants also reported alcohol consumption within the families.
From the research, strong family supports are required as protective factors against juvenile consumption. The role of the parent in the development of child behaviors cannot be underestimated. The study, therefore, provides several implications in the association between parental support and juvenile consumption. First, a strong familial support system is essential in preventing delinquency and negative behaviors such as alcohol consumption. Secondly, basic parental roles such as awareness, rewarding positive behavior, punishing negative behavior, and monitoring behavior are all required to prevent the juvenile from alcoholism. The research has also unveiled a critical area of concern. The relationship between parental alcohol consumption and the eventual juvenile alcoholism should be assessed thoroughly.
Conclusion
The findings from the research have shown that family support is an essential protective factor against juvenile alcoholism. The family support factors identified include parental management, parental monitoring, parental rewards, and the overall behavior of the parents. A lack of these tenets means that the child lacks direction, guidance, and the impetus to engage in positive behaviors. The literature review has provided several insights to support these assertions. The best theory to support the research is known as the Social Developmental Model (SDM), which points out the crucial role that parents play in their children’s acquisition of behaviors. However, the research has also given birth to several research areas that attention needs to be paid to. First, emphasis should be placed on the relationship between alcohol consumption in parents and the resultant juvenile alcoholism. Another area of future research should focus on the impact of peer pressure and low socioeconomic conditions.
References
Carvajal, F., & Lerma-Cabrera, J. M. (2015). Alcohol Consumption among Adolescents — Implications for Public Health. Topics in Public Health. Doi: 10.5772/58930
Eitle, T. M., Johnson-Jennings, M., & Eitle, D. J. (2013). Family structure and adolescent alcohol use problems: Extending popular explanations to American Indians. Social science research, 42(6), 1467-1479.
Kopak, A. M., Chen, A. C. C., Haas, S. A., & Gillmore, M. R. (2012). The importance of family factors to protect against substance use-related problems among Mexican heritage and White youth. Drug and alcohol dependence, 124(1-2), 34-41.
Marshall, E. J. (2014). Adolescent alcohol use: risks and consequences. Alcohol and alcoholism, 49(2), 160-164.
Muchiri, B. W., & dos Santos, M. M. (2018). Family management risk and protective factors for adolescent substance use in South Africa. Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy, 13(1), 24.
Ngamije, J., & Yadufashije, D. (2017). Risk and Protective factors for alcohol and other drug use (AOD) among adolescents in Rubavu district, Rwanda. Risk and Protective Factors for Alcohol and Other Drug Use (AOD) Among Adolescents in Rubavu District, Rwanda (September 12, 2017).
Silva, S. É. D. D., & Padilha, M. I. (2013). Alcoholism in adolescents' life histories: an analysis in the light of social representations. Texto & Contexto-Enfermagem, 22(3), 576-584.
