According to a new study out of Washington State University, teenagers who believe that their parents use cannabis or cannabis products are more likely to have favorable attitudes toward the drug and may consider trying it themselves.
The research, which was published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies, has also revealed that the role of parental monitoring, as well as the closeness of parent-child relationships, play crucial roles in an adolescent’s views about cannabis, which often has distinct effects based on the parent’s gender.
The findings could help parents who use cannabis develop more effective strategies for communicating the health risks of the drug to their children, especially in states like Washington, where cannabis is legal, and societal messages can complicate discussions of substance use.
“Parents need to recognize that their use matters,” Stacey J. T. Hust, lead author of the study and a professor of communication at WSU, said. “If teens perceive their parents use cannabis, whether they actually do or not, it can send the message that the behavior is also acceptable for them, especially without explicit conversations that set boundaries for the teen.”
The Study’s Parameters
In the study, the Washington State University team surveyed 276 teens aged 13 to 17 in Washington state about their perceptions of parental cannabis use, their closeness to their parents, and the level of parental monitoring in their lives. Key findings revealed that 32% of teens believed their fathers used cannabis, while 25% thought their mothers did. These perceptions were associated with decreased negative attitudes toward cannabis, as well as increased intentions to use it.
The study found that the influence of parental closeness differed by gender. Adolescents close to their non-using mothers reported lower intentions to use cannabis, while teens close to cannabis-using mothers exhibited more positive attitudes and stronger intentions to use the substance. For fathers, closeness was more strongly associated with positive attitudes toward cannabis use, regardless of whether or not the father used cannabis.
Influences of Parental Monitoring
The researchers also discovered that parental monitoring can be a powerful barrier against underage cannabis use, particularly for boys. Boys who reported higher levels of monitoring by their parents—which was measured by parents knowing their whereabouts, as well as who their friends were—expressed more negative attitudes toward cannabis than girls under similar levels of supervision.
“Parenting is highly gendered,” Hust stated. “This study sheds light on how mothers and fathers uniquely impact their children’s views on cannabis, providing a roadmap for future research to explore these differences further.”
Hust, as well as Jessica Willoughby, an associate professor of Communication at WSU and co-author of the study, has said that the overall message for parents is to have open, honest discussions about cannabis, combined with consistent parental monitoring. This can help prevent teens from viewing the substance in a positive manner, as well as prevent their intentions of using it. They recommend that parents frame cannabis as an adult decision, akin to alcohol or tobacco use, and emphasize the risks associated with it.
“Parents need to be thoughtful about how they talk about their use with their kids,” Willoughby said. “They need to make clear that cannabis is a product meant for adults and communicate its potential harms, especially for developing adolescent brains.”
The researchers plan to build on their study by investigating how parents work to communicate with their teenagers about substances and substance abuse. Future efforts will explore topics such as the role of parental warmth and closeness in fostering effective conversations about cannabis, as well as other health-related behaviors. By understanding these dynamics, parents can better guide their teens toward making informed and healthier decisions.
