Study Cites Maternal Influences on Youth Drinking

Mothers who enforce discipline over their young teens can prevent their kids from drinking, according to a new Australian study.

Reuters reported March 19 that study author Rosa Alati of the University of Queensland and colleagues looked at the degree of maternal parental control and relationship changes as related to teen alcohol use. They found that problem drinking risk was doubled among teens whose mothers exerted low control and changed relationship partners twice or more.

“Maintaining attentive oversight of a child is important in the context of frequent changes in relationship status,” Alati said.

The study was published in the journal Addiction.