Parents Who First Allowed Adolescents to Drink Alcohol in a Family Context During Spring 2020 COVID-19 Emergency Shutdowns

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book Title/Conference

Journal of Adolescent Health

Volume

68

Issue

4

Publisher

Elsevier Inc.

Publication Date

2-10-2021

First Page

816

Last Page

818

Abstract

Purpose COVID-19 stay-at-home orders during Spring 2020 dramatically changed daily life and created significant challenges for families. We document levels and predictors of U.S. parents who newly allowed adolescents to drink alcohol at home during the shutdown. Methods Participants in an ongoing longitudinal study were two adolescent siblings (N= 911, M= 14.43, SD= 1.54yeras) and one parent (N= 456; 85% mothers) who provided self-report data before the pandemic (T1) and during the shutdown. Results No parents permitted adolescent drinking with family at T1; nearly one in six allowed it during the shutdown. In full models, adolescents who previously drank Iwithout permission) and had light or heavy drinking parents were more likely to be newly permitted to drink. Conclusions Parents' alcohol permissibility within family contexts changed during the pandemic and was shaped by both parent and adolescent drinking. Well-child visits should continue adolescent alcohol screening and parent support during and after the pandemic.

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