A new study shows that one habit among parents is linked to increased alcohol use in teens

specific Parental interventions It can break the intergenerational cycle of drug use, even if the parents don’t stop drinking alcohol themselves, according to researchers from the Federal University of São Paulo.

The study analyzed data from more than 4,200 Brazilian teens and their parents, and found that parents’ drinking habits are a major predictor of whether teens will take up alcohol or drugs.

A common drinking habit may double your risk of developing an advanced liver condition

A Parental alcohol consumption It’s associated with a 24% chance of their children drinking — and that risk escalates when multiple substances are involved, according to the study’s press release.

When guardians use alcohol, tobacco or e-cigarettes, the likelihood that their children will do the same jumps to 28%. The results were published in the scientific journal Addictive Behaviors.

Parents’ alcohol consumption is associated with a 24% chance that their children will drink, and this risk escalates when multiple substances are involved. (Istock)

Data was collected from 2023 to 2024 in Four cities in Brazil. The average age of the teens was 14.7 years, and the group included an equal mix of boys and girls.

“Through this study, we reinforce the fact that parental patterns of behavior Abuse of alcohol and other drugs “They affect their children,” lead author Zila Sanchez, a professor at the university, said in the statement.

Millennials are still drinking, just early on as the ‘DAYCAP’ trend turns nightlife upside down

The most effective form of prevention appears to be abstinence based on example.

When guardians choose not to drink, 89% of teens abstain from using alcohol or other drugs.

When guardians choose not to drink, 89% of teens abstain from using alcohol or other drugs. (Istock)

The home environment also played a role Adolescent substance useThe researchers analyzed the effects of the following four parenting styles.

• trusted: High affection combined with clear rules (most effective)
• Authoritarian: Strict rules but low emotion (lower drug use, but less effective against alcohol)
• permitted: High affection but no rules (provided no protective effect)
• neglected: Low affection and lack of rules (provided no protective effect)

“If they set rules and boundaries at home and show affection, that’s it Protective factors “They greatly underestimate the risks they themselves pose when they consume these substances,” Sanchez said.

Click here to subscribe to our health newsletter

However, the researchers cautioned that affection is not a cure-all, and that if alcohol is framed as universal Coping mechanismThe teenager is more likely to adopt this behavior.

Click here for more health stories

“When consumption is repetitive and treated as something trivial, it translates into greater risks, regardless of the existing emotional bond,” Sanchez said.

The study suggests that while parental habits are the main indicator of teen use, setting strict household rules can significantly reduce the risks. (Istock)

The researchers noted some limitations in the study.

Click here to download the FOX NEWS app

Because it analyzed a snapshot of data from a specific point in time, it shows an association, but it cannot prove that parents’ drinking is the reason teens choose.

The data also relied on surveys conducted by teens, who may not have reported their own usage or misremembered their parents’ habits.

Test yourself with our latest lifestyle quiz

Additionally, because the study only focused on four cities in Brazil, the results may not reflect the drinking culture or family dynamics in other regions. Parts of the world.