NCJ Number
190033
Date Published
July 2000
Length
97 pages
Annotation
This report presents a summary of findings from a 2000 survey of a sample of Montana parents regarding parenting behaviors and perceptions associated with teen substance use.
Abstract
The purpose of the survey was to develop information that can be used in the development of social-norms messages and materials as part of an overall marketing campaign to reduce teen substance abuse. A total of 787 randomly selected households throughout the State participated in the survey. Parent participants were asked 54 questions about their relationship with their teenager (12 through 17 years old). Some of the questions focused on family rules and parental knowledge of their teen's non-use of alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana, and they were asked how much influence they had on their teens' choices. Other questions considered curfews and completion of schoolwork in the home. In addition, participants were asked about their perceptions of the typical Montana parent. Survey findings showed a disparity between the actual parenting social norm (what parents most commonly did) and the perceived social norm of "typical" parents (what they perceived that typical parents commonly did). Montana parents viewed themselves as being more involved with their teens than they perceived as typical of other Montana parents. This suggested that targeted social-norms media campaigns, composed of carefully developed and tested messages, can begin to reduce the misperceptions that existed in Montana parents regarding their influence on their teens. A rigorous social norms campaign, delivered to parents of teenagers, can provide a means to increase the number of parents who practice protective parenting skills for reducing teen substance use. 36 references and appended survey question matrix, cover letter, survey non-respondents follow-up letter, and the parent survey instrument