Adolescência e consumo de álcool - estilos parentais de socialização: risco ou proteção?

Abstract

Epidemiological studies in recent years show a growing number of adolescent consumers of alcoholic beverages in Brazil and in the world. The average age for the beginning of the consumption has decreased and there appears to be no more difference in alcohol use among boys and girls. The abuse of this substance is potentialized due to some factors such as expectations regarding the use of alcohol, the group of friends, social support, beyond the family that is considered one of the main factors involved in this multifaceted chain. In this respect, the parenting styles of socialization have been configured as important risk factors and/or protection for the consumption of alcohol and other drugs, as well as for a number of other outcomes, such as academic performance, sexual and violent risk behavior. In this perspective, the purpose of this work is to correlate the consumption of alcohol in adolescence and parenting styles of socialization. The research sample was composed of 270 high school students from three public schools in the cities of Juiz de Fora and Rio Pomba. Data was collected through the application of three instruments: 1) SocioDemographic Questionnaire; 2) Requirement and Responsiveness Scale; 3) Drug Use Screening Inventory - R (DUSI R). Data analysis found that the family may be taken as an important measure to understand the behavior of alcohol use among studied adolescents. Thus, the parenting styles socialization used by mothers is shaped as potential risk factors and/or protection involved in this process, correlation with fathers was not found, a result that shows the importance played by the mother, as a risk factor and/or protection in the adoption of behaviors of drinking among young people. Moreover, it was found that living with parents can be considered a protective factor, while increased consumption was found among older adolescents, indicating the importance of age as an explanatory variable. From the results reviewed, there is an expectative to contribute towards the formulation of strategies for prevention and treatment in relation to the use and abuse of alcohol substances among the youngsters, even encouraging the psychosocial health promotion of young people as well as of their parents.