Parental Monitoring and Adolescent Drinking: Results of a 12-month Follow-up

OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship between parental monitoring and adolescent drinking over time. METHODS Adolescents completed a baseline survey regarding their involvement with alcohol and parental monitoring. They were interviewed 12 months later, to obtain follow-up measures of drinking and involvement in alcohol-risk situations. RESULTS Highly monitored adolescents were less likely to report that they were drinking 12 months later. This relationship remained when controlling for age, gender, drinking at baseline, and being in various high-risk situations. CONCLUSIONS The longer term protective relationship between parental monitoring and alcohol involvement was demonstrated. The need to establish frequent parental monitoring is indicated.