Family Communication Patterns, Rebelliousness, and Adolescent Reactions to Anti-Drug PSAs

Abstract

A study investigated the proposition that the ability of family communication patterns (FCP) and related measures to predict reactions to anti-drug messages is in part contingent on adolescent rebelliousness. Fifty-one adolescents (ages 15-18) in high school health classes saw six anti-drug PSAs, and indicated the extent to which they considered the messages believable and likely to persuade them and people they knew. Respondents were blocked with respect to revised FCP, rebelliousness, and substance abuse. As predicted, rebellious adolescents from conformity-oriented families considered the messages relatively less believable, and the non-rebellious adolescents from conformity-oriented families .considered the messages relatively more believable. No effects on perceived message persuasiveness were found, nor were predicted relationships between conversation-orientation and extent of drug use and assessments of believability and persuasiveness statistically significant. (One table of data is included. Contains 27 references.(Author/RS) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. *********************************************************************** Respondents were blocked with respect to revised FCP, rebelliousness, and substance abuse. As predicted, rebellious adolescents from conformity-oriented families considered the messages relatively less believable, and the non-rebellious adolescents from conformity-oriented families considered the messages relatively more believable. No effects on xerceived message persuasiveness were found, nor were predicted relationships between conversation-orientation and extent of drug use and assessments of believability and persuasiveness statistically significant.

The Curiosity-Arousing Function of Anti-Drug Ads

“…In fact, we have unfortunately seen illicit drug use rates among youth rise in recent years (Johnston, O'Malley, & Bachman, 2003). Although prior research has shown that various types of viewers, such as those who are rebellious (Skinner & Slater, 1995), may not be affected by or may even distrust anti-drug ads, most studies show a positive relationship between ad exposure and anti-drug attitudes.…”

“…For example, it has been shown that people whose values parallel those advocated in a commercial tend to believe those ads that contain statistical evidence about the harmful effects of drugs, but people who oppose such values trust ads that include anecdotes about drug experiences (Slater & Rouner, 1996). Rebellious youth have been shown to distrust anti-drug ads altogether (Skinner & Slater, 1995). When testing both PSA type and audience traits, individual differences tend to moderate PSA effects.…”

Family Communication Patterns and Cognitive Processing: Conversation and Conformity Orientations as Predictors of Informational Reception Apprehension

“…For example, Koerner and Fitzpatrick (2002b) reported that children from high-conformity orientation families evaluate persuasive messages based on judgments of the speaker's ethos rather than on argument quality (see also Skinner & Slater, 1995). Other researchers have found that conformity orientations are associated with higher self-monitoring, lower self-esteem (Huang, 1999), and increased conflict-avoidant behavior (Koerner & Fitzpatrick, 1997) in young adults.…”

Effects of Communication Skills Training on Parents and Young Adolescents From Extreme Family Types

“…Conversely, research has demonstrated that detrimental adolescent outcomes such as delinquency (Clark & Shields, 1997), pregnancy (Jaccard, Dittus, & Gordon, 1996), self-harm (Tulloch, Blizzard, & Pinkus, 1997), rebelliousness (Skinner & Slater, 1995), alcohol and drug experimentation (Norem-Hebeisen, Johnson, Anderson, & Johnson, 1984), and depression and suicide proneness (Stivers, 1988) are linked to communication that is perceived by the adolescent as closed, conflictual, emotional, one-sided, or devoid of certain topics. Training in communication skill was found to be effective for sixthgraders in resisting pressure to try cigarettes, alcohol, and other substances (Grady, Gersick, & Boratynski, 1985).…”