Pay Attention To Your Teens’ Friends’ Parents

According to a study published online in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine there is an excellent predictor of whether or not your teens will binge drink and/or drink to the point of drunkenness. Hear me out. You will never believe what this predictor is.

This study by Holly Shakya, PhD. and colleagues, found that teens with friends whose mothers were authoritative (warm, loving, and limit-setting) were less likely to drink to excess than those with mothers who were neglectful. The same beneficial results were found for marijuana and cigarette use.

The authors of the study concluded by stressing the importance of an adolescent’s friendship network. I am concluding by saying let’s hear it for the mothers who are loving and looking out for the teens. Thank you for taking care of your kids and our kids.