To Örebro University

Background and aims: The Örebro Prevention Programme (ÖPP) was found previously to be effective in reducing drunkenness among adolescents [Cohen's d = 0.35, number needed to treat (NNT) = 7.7]. The current study tested the mediating role of parents’ restrictive attitudes to underage drinking in explaining the effectiveness of the ÖPP, and the potential moderating role of gender, immigration status, peers’ and parents’ drinking and parent–adolescent relationship quality.

Design: A quasi‐experimental matched‐control group study with assessments at baseline, and at 18‐ and 30‐month follow‐ups.

Participants: Of the 895 target youths at ages 12–13 years, 811 youths and 651 parents at baseline, 653 youths and 524 parents at 18‐month and 705 youths and 506 parents at 30‐month follow‐up participated in the study.

Measurements: Youths reported on their past month drunkenness, their parents’ and peers’ alcohol use and the quality of their relationship with parents. Parents reported on their attitudes to underage drinking.

Findings: The mediation analyses, using latent growth curve modeling, showed that changes in parents’ restrictive attitudes to underage drinking explained the impact of the ÖPP on changes in youth drunkenness, which was reduced, and onset of monthly drunkenness, which was delayed, relative to controls. Mediation effect explained 57 and 45% of the effects on drunkenness and onset of monthly drunkenness, respectively. The programme effects on both parents’ attitudes and youth drunkenness were similar across gender, immigrant status, parents’ and peers’ alcohol use and parent–youth relationship quality.

Conclusions: Increasing parents’ restrictive attitudes to youth drinking appears to be an effective and robust strategy for reducing heavy underage drinking regardless of the adolescents’ gender, cultural origin, peers’ and parents’ drinking and relationship quality with parents.

An evaluation is reported of an alcohol prevention program that targets parents in order to decrease drinking among 13-16 year-olds. The evaluation was performed in a quasi-experimental study with a matched control group and annual assessments, directed at youths and their parents independently, in a longitudinal intention-to-treat design. The implementation of the program centered around three different schools located in inner city, public housing and small town areas. Participants in the study were 900 students entering junior high school and their parents.

The intervention consisted in information and mailings directed at parents, which advised them to maintain restrictive attitudes towards underage alcohol drinking, and to encourage their youths’ involvement in organized leisure activities. The implementation successfully influenced parents’ attitudes to underage drinking, but failed to increase youth participation in organized activities. At post-test at grade 9, youths in the intervention group reported less drunkenness and delinquency. Effect sizes were 0.35 for drunkenness and 0.38 for delinquency. Two subsamples, early starters in drinking and early delinquents, were analyzed separately in addition to full sample. Results from analyses of these subsamples yielded effect sizes of .52 for drunkenness and .32 for delinquency. The findings were similar for boys and girls. The effects of the intervention were not moderated by type of community. The main results were replicated in a latent growth curve analysis, which too the clustered nature of the data into account. It is concluded that working via parents is an effective way of reducing underage drinking and delinquency.

Aims: To evaluate a 2.5-year prevention programme working through parents, targeting drinking among 13-16-year-olds. Design: Quasi-experimental using matched controls with a pre-post, intention-to-treat design. Setting: Schools located in inner city, public housing and small town areas. Participants: A total of 900 pupils entering junior high school and their parents, followed longitudinally. Intervention: Parents received information by mail and during parent meetings in schools urging them to: (i) maintain strict attitudes against youth alcohol use and (ii) encourage their youth's involvement in adult-led, organized activities. Measurements: Evaluation of the implementation used measures of parental attitudes against underage drinking and youths' participation in organized activities. Outcomes were youths' drunkenness and delinquency. Findings: The implementation successfully influenced parents' attitudes against underage drinking, but not youth participation in organized activities. At post-test, youths in the intervention group reported less drunkenness and delinquency. Effect sizes were 0.35 for drunkenness and 0.38 for delinquency. Findings were similar for boys and girls and for early starters. Effects were not moderated by community type. Conclusions: Working via parents proved to be an effective way to reduce underage drinking as well as delinquency.