Parental Restriction of Mature-rated Media and Its Association With Substance Use Among Argentinean Adolescents

doi:10.1016/j.acap.2015.11.004

Academic Pediatrics

Volume 16, Issue 3, April 2016, Pages 282-289

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acap.2015.11.004 Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective

To assess the independent relation between parental restrictions on mature-rated media (M-RM) and substance use among South American adolescents.

Methods

Cross-sectional school-based youth survey of 3,172 students (mean age, 12.8 years; 57.6% boys) in 3 large Argentinean cities. The anonymous survey queried tobacco, alcohol, and drug use using items adapted from global youth surveys. Adolescents reported M-RM restriction for internet and video game use, television programming, and movies rated for adults. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the association between parental M-RM restriction and substance use after adjustment for hourly media use, measures of authoritative parenting style, sociodemographic characteristics, and sensation-seeking.

Results

Substance use rates were 10% for current smoking, 32% for current drinking alcohol, 17% for past 30-day binge drinking, and 8% for illicit drug use (marijuana or cocaine). Half of the respondents reported parental M-RM restriction (internet 52%, TV 43%, adult movies 34%, video game 25%). Parental M-RM restriction was only modestly correlated with authoritative parenting measures. In multivariate analyses M-RM restriction on all 4 venues was strongly protective for all substance use outcomes. Compared with no restriction, odds ratios for substance use for full restrictions were 0.32 (0.18–0.59), 0.53 (0.38–0.07), 0.36 (0.22–0.59), and 0.49 (0.26–0.92) for current smoking, drinking, binge drinking, and illicit drug use, respectively. The most important single M-RM venue was movies.

Conclusions

Results of this study confirmed the protective association between parental M-RM restriction during adolescence and multiple substance use outcomes, including illicit drugs. M-RM restriction is independent of traditional parenting measures. The preponderance of the evidence supports intervention development.

Section snippets

Study Sample and Procedure

A convenience sample of 33 schools from 3 large cities in Argentina (Buenos Aires, Córdoba, Tucumán) participated in the study (n = 15, 8, and 10, respectively), with public schools identified by the Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education (n = 18) and private schools identified through personal contacts (n = 15). At the time of the survey there were 916 schools in the 3 cities, 492 in Buenos Aires, 282 in Cordoba, and 142 in Tucuman; 13 schools were selected because they had participated

Description of the Adolescent Participants

Of 3826 eligible students 3172 completed the survey (response rate 83%). The mean age of participants was 12.8 years (standard deviation = 0.95), 42% were female, and most parents had more than 8 years of education (Table 1); 32% attended private school and 24% had been retained a grade in the past. Access to media was high, 85% had a cellular phone and 86% had a television in the bedroom. Means for responsiveness and demandingness were higher for mothers than fathers. Approximately half of the

Discussion

Results of this study extend findings to Latin American youths, that parental M-RM restrictions are associated with lower rates of substance use. As with other studies, there was a linear dose–response between tighter parental restrictions for mature movies and less use of all substances. Extending many previous studies, in this one we examined parental rules in multiple media venues besides movies and found independent associations, over and above movie restrictions, for internet and TV rules.

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the work of Edna Arillo Santillan, Inti Barrientos Gutierrez, and Rosaura Perez Hernandez from the Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica de Mexico for their input during the design of the data collection instruments, and thank all pupils and staff in participating schools and the survey field forces in each city.

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: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

: Financial disclosure: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Cancer Institute and the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health under award numbers TW009274 (multiple principal investigators J.D.S. and J.F.T.) and CA077026 (principal investigator J.D.S.). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.

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Adolescents and Substance AbuseParental Restriction of Mature-rated Media and Its Association With Substance Use Among Argentinean Adolescents

Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Section snippets

Study Sample and Procedure

Description of the Adolescent Participants

Discussion

Acknowledgments

Prev Med

J Adolesc Health

J Adolesc Health

Int J Drug Policy

Am J Prev Med

Addict Behav

J Subst Abuse

Addict Behav

J Adolesc Health

The influence of parenting style on adolescent competence and substance use

J Early Adolesc

Longitudinal study of parental movie restriction on teen smoking and drinking in Germany

Addiction

Effect of parental R-rated movie restriction on adolescent smoking initiation: a prospective study

Pediatrics

Association of smoking onset with R-rated movie restrictions and adolescent sensation seeking

Pediatrics

Exposure to movie reckless driving in early adolescence predicts reckless, but not inattentive driving

PloS One

Modifying exposure to smoking depicted in movies: a novel approach to preventing adolescent smoking

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med

A longitudinal study of risk-glorifying video games and behavioral deviance

J Pers Soc Psychol

Media exposure and tobacco, illicit drugs, and alcohol use among children and adolescents: a systematic review

Subst Abus

A longitudinal study of risk-glorifying video games and reckless driving

Psychol Pop Media Cult

Preventing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General

Exposure to smoking in films and own smoking among Scottish adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Thorax

Parental R-rated movie restriction and early-onset alcohol use

J Stud Alcohol Drugs

Adolescents and Substance Abuse
Parental Restriction of Mature-rated Media and Its Association With Substance Use Among Argentinean Adolescents