Abstract
Background: Foreign studies report relationships between parental control and parental warmth on the one hand and alcohol abuse among children and adolescents on the other hand. Studies imply that higher levels of maternal warmth and stronger paternal control are associated with lower levels of alcohol abuse among children and adolescents.
Aims: Research is needed to reveal the relationship between parental control and parental warmth and alcohol abuse among children/adolescents. The study explores gender-specific differences in the effects of maternal and paternal control and warmth.
Methods: Research data was obtained by using the Czech version of the European Family Empowerment Questionnaire. Logistic regression was used for the statistical analysis.
Sample: There were 2,571 participants. Following the exclusion of incomplete questionnaires, the final sample comprised 1,697 questionnaires.
Results: Paternal control seems to have a greater association with a lower prevalence of alcohol abuse among children (an 18.8% lower likelihood of lifetime alcohol use). Maternal control seems to have a smaller association with a lower prevalence of alcohol abuse among children (a 17.2% lower likelihood of lifetime alcohol use).
Maternal warmth shows a greater association with a lower prevalence of alcohol abuse among children (a 60% lower likelihood of lifetime alcohol use). Paternal warmth shows a smaller association with a lower prevalence of alcohol abuse among children (a 26% lower likelihood of lifetime alcohol use).
Conclusions: In the next round of the Unplugged programme, it may be useful to conduct a follow-up study of parental control and warmth using matched parental questionnaires. The results of the study could be utilised by prevention practitioners.