Parent-Adolescent Interactions and Substance Use: A Prospective, Observational Study of Mexican Origin Families

Parent-adolescent relationship quality is a predictor of adolescent substance use. However, most research in this area has relied on questionnaire based assessments of both substance use and interpersonal family dynamics. Furthermore, prior work has typically focused on European American samples. These gaps are addressed in the current study via the evaluation of the prospective associations between observed parent-adolescent interactions in 7th grade, and substance use in 9th and 12th grade, in a longitudinal sample of Mexican-origin youth (N = 674). Adolescents’ observed behaviors towards parents were weakly but significantly predictive of future substance use, especially observed hostility. Results add to the literature suggesting that family processes are relevant in the development of substance use, and offer converging evidence regarding the role of early aggressive tendencies and later substance use.