Evaluating dyadic interdependence between cannabis attitudes and parental monitoring processes among parents and adolescents
Year: 2026
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Cannabis is a commonly used substance during adolescence. As US legalization expands, public perception of cannabis increasingly reflects the view that it is less harmful than other substances. The extent to which parents monitor and know about their adolescent’s activities and whereabouts is an important tool to manage risk behaviors like substance use. However, it is unclear how parental monitoring may vary based on cannabis attitudes. The current study investigated how parents' and adolescents’ attitudes toward cannabis (risk of harm to teens, disapproval, and ease of availability) are associated with parental knowledge about adolescents’ whereabouts/activities and its sources (adolescent disclosure, parental solicitation). We hypothesized that lower perceived risk of harm and less disapproval of cannabis use would be associated with lower levels of parental monitoring among both parents and adolescents. Our sample was N = 73 adolescents ages 14–17 (59% female) and their caregivers. Lower parental perceived risk of harm to teens from cannabis use was associated with less adolescent-reported parental solicitation. Lower adolescent perceived risk of harm to teens from cannabis use was linked to less adolescent disclosure to parents. Greater adolescent-perceived cannabis availability was associated with (a) both adolescent- and parent-report that parents knew less about adolescents’ whereabouts and activities, and (b) lower adolescent-report of less disclosure to parents. Results highlight the interdependent nature of parent and adolescent cannabis perceptions in relation to monitoring processes. Parents may benefit from public health initiatives that provide them with information on the potential negative health and emotional consequences of cannabis use in adolescence.
Source: PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints)
Institution: Brown University
Language: English
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7214384749