Family management practices and family communication patterns have a clear impact on a youth's behavior. The child raised with a warm and uncritical parenting style rather than a harsh, overly authoritarian or overly permissive style develops patterns of resiliency.

Similarly , the parent who communicates clear expectations of behaviors (Hawkins and Catalano, 1992), clear values and expectations for educational standards and goals (Felner et al., 1982), and proactive ways to manage stress and conflict in a positive manner (Werner, 1990) develops resilient behaviors in the child.

Several studies have examined the comparative value of communication from parents and perceived pressure from peers to use alcohol and other drugs (Kafka and London, 1991). One study confirms that parental support and communication from parents does appear to play a role in adolescent behavior, and openness in communication may be considered a protective measure against possible use. Communication, family management, and monitoring are important predictors of adolescent drinking, delinquency, and related problem behaviors, even after taking into account critical demographic and family factors, including socioeconomic indicators, age, gender, race of the youth, family structure, and family history of abuse (Barnes and Farrell, 1992). The authors suggest that their findings demonstrate a less frequent occurrence of overt peer pressure than commonly believed. In their study, youth did not report pressure from friends to engage in negative behaviors. However, wanting to be accepted, wanting to belong, and wanting to be noticed are powerful influences.

Other researchers cite communication and family management problems that include unclear expectations for behavior, inconsistent or harsh discipline, lack of bonding and caring, conflict between the parents or care givers (Kandel and Andrews, 1987; Baumrind, 1985; Johnson et al., 1985) and low expectation for the child's success (Wilson and Herrnstein, 1985) as contributing to the youth's risk of using substances early and becoming dependent on them.

In a study that looked at the comparative influence of family and peers of youth aged 9 through 17, both current drug users and abstainers, Hispanic and Anglo youth report that family communication is important to them. For both groups of youth parental influence is more important than peer influence on a broad array of factors (Coombs et al., 1990).

Parenting IS Prevention Training of Trainers Workshop, 1998	SAMHSA

Office of National Drug Control Policy