Changing Latino Adolescents’ Substance Use Norms and Behaviors: the Effects of Synchronized Youth and Parent Drug Use Prevention Interventions

Abstract

While parent and youth substance use prevention interventions have shown beneficial effects on preadolescents, many programs have typically targeted U.S born European American and African American families while overlooking the unique factors that characterize recent immigrant Latino families. This article presents the results on youth substance use when adding a culturally grounded parenting component, Familias Preparando la Nueva Generación (FPNG), to the existing and already proven efficacious classroom-based drug abuse prevention intervention, keepin’it REAL (kiR). Data come from youth (N=267) participating in the randomized control trial of the interventions who were surveyed at baseline (beginning of 7th grade) and 18 months later (end of 8th grade). Using multivariate linear regression path analyses, results indicate when FPNG and kiR are combined, youth had significantly lowered alcohol and cigarettes use at the end of 8th grade, mediated through anti-drug norms, when compared to youth who only participated in kiR without parental participation in FPNG. These findings indicate that adolescent normative beliefs and related behaviors can be changed through synchronized culturally grounded parent and youth interventions and together can play an important role in reducing adolescent substance use.

Family Economic Security Policies and Child and Family Health

“…Overall, prevention science has focused on developing programs to address health disparities, but there is increasing recognition that policy level changes could “ultimately be more important in realizing societies where most people thrive” (Biglan, 2016). Given the number of Americans impacted by the four family economic security policies reviewed in this paper, it is critical that researchers not only explore how policies affect health, but also advocate for policies that support a more nurturing society and are health promoting.…”

Advances in Substance Abuse Prevention Practice and Science for Hispanic/Latinos

“…Familias Preparando la Nueva Generación (FPNG) is a synchronized culturally grounded parenting component program which involves Latino youth substance abuse prevention [61]. FPNG serves as an addition to the already proven efficacious classroom-based drug abuse prevention intervention, Keepin' it Real (KIR).…”

Parenting in 2 Worlds: Effects of a Culturally Adapted Intervention for Urban American Indians on Parenting Skills and Family Functioning

“…connectedness, communication, involvement, and monitoring), family functioning, and adolescent development, specifically on parenting as a method of change in youth behavior. High levels of parental involvement and monitoring, open parent-child communication, and close supportive family relationships are key factors in reducing the risk of youth substance use, delinquent behavior, and unprotected sex (Kelly, Comello & Hunn, 2002; Marsiglia, Ayers, Baldwin-White, & Booth, 2015; Mmari, 2010; Profe & Wild, 2015; Rai et al, 2003; Li, Stanton & Feigelman, 2000; Tolan & Larsen, 2014). …”

“…The P2W curriculum draws on the efficacious Familias: Preparando la Nueva Generación (FPNG) Latino parenting curriculum (Marsiglia et al, 2015), while incorporating the voice of local AI urban communities through community-based participatory research (CBPR) (Israel et al, 2006). …”