Parental monitoring and adolescent alcohol risk in a clinic population

Objectives: To assess the association between parental monitoring and adolescent alcohol risk. Methods: Adolescent managed-care patients completed a survey of their involvement with alcohol and their perceptions of monitoring and other forms of parental influence. Results: Frequent monitoring was associated with less likelihood that adolescents had engaged in a variety of alcohol-risk behaviors or had been in a variety of risk situations. Choosing to share alcohol-related concerns with other adults and placing importance on parents' opinions were not as consistently related to alcohol risk. Conclusions: The need to enhance parental monitoring as a proactive protective parental response is indicated.