Positive parenting, brain development, and alcohol use in teenagers

Parental intimacy in teens increases resilience and reduces alcohol abuse.

Positive parenting not only makes family life happier, it promotes a child’s cognitive, physical, social and emotional development. A recently published study shows that this remains constant throughout her teenage years and is especially important for children who are at risk of substance abuse.

Adolescence is a period of rapid and critical brain development, when active parenting leads to better self-regulation, cognitive processing, decision-making, and judgment. The developing brain can be nurtured by active parenting, but it can also be damaged by drug and alcohol abuse, including binge drinking.

Findings Support Adolescent Parental Intimacy

In a recently published study, Gayathri Pandey and colleagues investigated whether parental familiarity with children aged 12 to 17 influenced binge drinking behavior in teenagers. They found that young people at risk of alcohol abuse were less likely to become heavy drinkers and more likely to show signs of healthy brain development if they felt close to their parents throughout their teenage years. discovered.

There were some differences by gender (e.g., maternal proximity was more strongly associated with avoidance of binge drinking; paternal proximity had greater effects on neurocognitive factors). Potential for binge drinking and healthy brain development.

Pandey and colleagues concluded that “positive parenting and parent-child intimacy promote efficient executive functioning and self-regulation in children, and reduce risky drinking and other externalizing behaviors.”

How to Practice Positive Teenage Parenting

1. Take Care. Being a parent of a teenage child can be very difficult. To maintain a patient and loving relationship with your child, do your best to get good nutrition, enough sleep and exercise, and time for yourself.
2. Be positive. Teenagers are not only filled with insecurity, insecurity and self-doubt, they are also more wary of possible criticism. No matter how difficult it may be, look for ways to show your approval each day and be careful to avoid judgments.
3. appear. Be there for teenagers whenever possible. Quality time is important, but so is presence time.
4. listen. Teenagers may not always want to talk to you, but when they do, listen with an open mind, without judgment or judgement. Do your best to avoid lectures and doctrines. Just listen, with empathy and (as much as possible) approval.
5. Be calm and confident. It’s normal and healthy for you and your teen to change the way you look at things and argue about it. No matter how they feel at the moment, when they challenge your attitudes, beliefs, and values, it’s good for their development. That’s the best way for them to hear why you think the way you do. The more calm and confident you are in your position, the more likely the other person will see things your way.
6. Please respect your child’s autonomy. Treat your teens as young people growing up. Give them as much respect and independence as they can safely handle. Learn from small mistakes as a way to prevent big mistakes later.
7. Help your child find solutions. Even if your child asks for advice, if they come to you with a problem, show empathy and start with questions that help them find solutions on their own. “What do you think I should do?” is always a good start. followed by, “What do you think would happen if you did that?” If I were you, I’d probably say…”
8. Collaboratively set expectations, rules and outcomes. Discuss what you need from your children and what they need from you to keep the home running smoothly. Keep rules as few as possible and keep them clear and understandable. Involve your child in determining the consequences of violations. Discuss additional chores as possible consequences, rather than removing privileges like screen.
9. Be a good role model. Whether or not your behavior matches your advice, how closely your child watches your behavior, how you relate to others, how trustworthy you are They learn more from what you do than from what you say.
10. Stay connected. Focus on your connection with your child, not on the mistakes or bad judgments they make or the disrespect they show toward you or others. is their feeling that you believe them.

There are many good reasons to practice positive parenting with your teen. These new findings show that supporting healthy brain development and reducing the potential for substance abuse do two more things.