Persisting Effects of Childhood Exposure: Parental Smoking and Drinking Habits Related to Young Women’s Alcohol, Cannabis, and Nicotine Vaping Frequency

H. Appleseth, E. Crockett-Barbera, S. Moyers, E. Doherty, Q. Leffingwell, JM Croff

Research output: Contribution to conferencePosterpeer-review

Abstract

PURPOSE: From 2013 to 2021, alcohol and nicotine vaping among adolescent and young adult (AYA) males and females declined, but the decline was less steep for females. Social learning theory suggests that exposure to parental substance use shapes offspring behaviors through observational learning. This study examines the link between childhood exposure to parental drinking and smoking and the frequency of monthly alcohol, cannabis, and ENDS use days among AYA females.

METHODS: Females ages 15-24 (N=149) reported demographics (age, race, ethnicity, maternal education level), childhood exposure to parental drinking and cigarette smoking (0=Never; 1=Rarely/Sometimes; 2= Nearly daily/Daily), and number of past-month drinking, cannabis, and ENDS vaping days via Timeline Follow-back. Negative binomial regressions examined exposure influences on total use days controlling for age, maternal education level, hours worked per week, AYA education status, parental monitoring, and parental influence.

RESULTS: This sample of female AYAs (Mage = 19.09, SD = 2.65) were primarily White (n=92, 61.7%) and most reported female caregiver education-level as less than a college degree (n=88, 61.1%). More frequent observation of parental smoking during childhood was linked to a 15% increase in drinking days and a 214% increase in cannabis use days, but unrelated to ENDS vaping days. More frequent exposure to parental drinking was associated with 54% fewer cannabis use days but was unrelated to AYA drinking and ENDS vaping days.

CONCLUSIONS: Frequent observation of parental smoking was associated with increased alcohol and cannabis use days among AYA females, whereas observation of parental drinking was associated with decreased cannabis use and unrelated to alcohol and ENDS use. Developing harm reduction strategies aimed at reducing children's observation of parental smoking, and potentially parental drinking, may curb risky substance use practices that persist through developmental transitions.
Original languageAmerican English
Pages8
StatePublished - 13 Sep 2024
Event2024 Symposium on Tribal and Rural Innovations in Disparities and Equity for Health - Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Cherokee Nation, Tahlequah, United States
Duration: 13 Sep 202413 Sep 2024

Conference

Conference2024 Symposium on Tribal and Rural Innovations in Disparities and Equity for Health
Abbreviated titleSTRIDE 2024
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityTahlequah
Period13/09/2413/09/24

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