The effects of perceived parental messages on first -year students\u27 decision-making pertaining to alcohol use: Relevance for alcohol prevention programs

This qualitative study examined students\u27 perceptions of parental alcohol prevention messages in comparison to reported utilization of messages in regards to alcohol use by students. Although parents are active in the college preparations of their child, parents or parent figures assume they have little influence over the behavior of their child once the child is in college However, parents continue to have a strong influence in the behavior of their child especially during the first year of college (Turrisi, Jaccard, Grimes, Taki, & Dunnam, 2001). The researcher explored the messages that students reported receiving from parents and the impact those parental messages had on the students\u27 decision to drink. The study was conducted at a private, four-year New England college. Through random selection, using the fall 2003 admissions data, a pool of 60 residential first-year students was chosen to participate in the study. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted with participating students to determine their perceptions of the content of alcohol prevention messages they received from parents and how those messages influenced them in regards to their consumption of alcohol at college. Data were compared with the students\u27 actual reported use of alcohol, as well as with the perceptions of the parent-child relationship. The results of this study provided the basis for developing a concept which should provide campus leaders with a better understanding of parental influence on college drinking and the relevance of parental influence in college prevention programming