| Parental involvement in the lives
of children has been shown to lower the risk for substance abuse and
other risky behaviors. Recent research at Columbia University revealed
that parents who exert their parental authority by taking a "hands-on"
approach to raising their children not only have better relationship
with their kids, but also reduce their risk of harming themselves with
drugs and alcohol. The research has identified twelve parental
actions or behaviors that are associated with decreased risk for drug
and alcohol use. They are:
Parents who expect to be told where their teen is going in the evenings and weekends
Parents who made it clear that they would be very upset if their teen tried marijuana
There are no periods of time of 1 hour or more after school or on the weekends where the parents do not know where the teen is.
Parents monitor what the teen is watching on TV.
Parents restrict the kind of music their teen can purchase
Parents are very aware of how teen is doing in school
Parents monitor internet usage
Family has dinner together 6-7 times per week
Teen had weekend curfew
Adult is always home when a teen returns from school
Teen is responsible for regular chores
TV is not on during dinner.
Hands on Parents are those who consistently
achieve at least 10 of the 12 actions described above.? Unfortunately,
only about one quarter of teens live with "hands-on" parents.
Hands-Off Parents"Hands-off" parents
consistently fail to set rules and monitor their teen's behavior. Of
the 12 actions described above these parents routinely achieve five or
less. Consequently, their children are more likely to engage in
substance abuse and other high-risk behavior. Some specific examples
include:
Teens whose parents are "very unaware"
of how their teen is doing at school are at nearly three times the risk
of teens whose parents are "very aware" of their teen's schooling.
Teens whose parents do not keep track of their whereabouts are at twice the risk of teens whose parents do.
Teens without a curfew are at one and a half times the risk of teens that have one.
Teens who do not regularly eat dinner with their
families are at one and a half times the risk of teens that eat dinner
with their parents nearly every night.
Teens whose parents would "not be too upset" about
their teen's pot use have teens at more than triple the risk of teens
whose parents would be "extremely upset."
Teens whose parents fail to monitor their teen's
television and Internet viewing, and restrict their music purchases are
at twice the risk of those teens whose parents monitor these activities.
In truth, all children, especially teenagers
need their parents to establish rules and expectations. In sharp
contrast to contemporary thinking about child rearing, children with
hands on parents seldom rebel or pull away. On the contrary, the
research confirms that "hands-on" parents are much more likely to have
an excellent relationship with their teens than permissive parents.
If you are having trouble with a teen or any parenting problems talk
with some trusted friends, clergy or seek professional help. It's never
too late to become a "Hands on Parent." |
