Citation

Koning IM, van den Eijnden RJ, Engels RCME, Verdurmen JE, Vollebergh WA. Addiction 2011; 106(3): 538-546.

Affiliation

Department of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands Trimbos Institute, Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, Utrecht, the Netherlands Institute of Family and Child Care Studies, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1360-0443.2010.03198.x

PMID

21059187

Abstract

Aims  To examine the effects of a parent and student intervention offered separately and simultaneously (PAS) on onset of weekly drinking via its putative mediators. Design  A randomized trial with four conditions; (1) parent intervention, (2) student intervention, (3) combined parent-student intervention and (4) control group. Setting  High schools selected randomly, located in different areas. Participants  A total of 2937 early adolescents (mean age = 12.6, standard deviation = 0.49) and their parents. Measurements  Mediation effects were analysed using pretest data and two follow-up measurements (10 and 22 months after baseline). A path model was estimated (Mplus) to examine the effect of the interventions on adolescent-reported mediators (self-control, perceived parental rules and attitudes about alcohol) and parent-reported mediators (parental rules and attitudes about alcohol). Outcome was onset of weekly drinking. Findings  The parent intervention modified rules and attitudes about alcohol as reported by parents. An indirect effect of the parent intervention via parental rules was found. The combined intervention affected both adolescent-reported and parent-reported rules and attitudes about alcohol and adolescents' perceived self-control, yet only perceived rules and self-efficacy, as reported by adolescents, and parental attitudes mediated the association between the combined intervention and onset of weekly drinking. No significant effects were found of the separate student intervention on the mediating factors. Conclusions  The PAS programme proved to be effective as predicted by the theoretical assumptions underlying the interventions. Interventions with parents and adolescents to prevent adolescent alcohol consumption may usefully target parental rules about alcohol and adolescents' self-confidence.

Language: en