'Mama Don't Preach': Young Adults' Perceptions of Maternal Messages about Underage Drinking. Issue 2 (2nd April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Napper, Lucy E.; Wolter, Laura C.; Ebersole, Diana S.
• Is Part Of: Journal of family communication. Volume 20:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 160
• Page End: 174
• Publication Date: 2020-04-02
• Subjects: Communication in families -- Periodicals; Families -- Periodicals; 306.87
• DOI: 10.1080/15267431.2020.1723591
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1526-7431

Abstract

ABSTRACT: College students commonly report that their parents provide advice about how to drink safely; however, there is very little research exploring the content of parent-child harm-reduction conversations. The present study explores the types of advice mothers provide underage college students about drinking. A random sample of college students (ages 18 to 20) completed an online survey about their alcohol use and conversations they had with their mother about alcohol. Students' perceptions of mother-child harm-reduction conversations include the themes of: specific protective behavioral strategies, ambiguous behavioral advice, decision making advice, value-based advice, warning-based advice, and advice conveying approval . Discussion of specific protective behavioral strategies was most common for female students and students who reported binge drinking. Mothers did not typically address how to implement harm-reduction strategies effectively. The findings have implications for the assessment of harm-reduction communication between parents and emerging adult children.