A theory of planned behavior examination of parent/adolescent drug prevention: The role that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control play in whether parents engage in drug preventative practices

Julie E Delaney, Purdue University

Abstract

Many parents do not talk to their children regularly about drugs (see Partnership for a Drug Free America, 2005 and 2006). There is evidence, however, suggesting that parent initiated drug preventative practices such as talking to and/or monitoring children may be effective in changing adolescents’ attitudes and behaviors regarding drugs (see Baumrind, 1991 and Booth-Butterfield & Sidelinger, 1998). The question addressed in this dissertation is: Why are more parents not using these drug preventative practices? The theory of planned behavior was used to tackle this question. The focus was on two drug preventative practices: “Talk to Your Child about Drugs” and “Monitor Your Child’s Friends and Activities.” The hypotheses predicted that attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control would be positively associated with parents’ intention to perform each drug preventative practice, and also that perceived control would moderate the relationship between attitude and intention and between subjective norms and intention. Before these hypotheses were tested, an exploratory study was conducted; 4 focus groups were run with parents of 7th-11th graders. The goals were to reveal the beliefs that underlie parents’ attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control and to give parents the opportunity to add to the list of drug preventative practices. Results from the theme analysis were used to develop measures of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control which were used in Study 2. In Study 2 the hypotheses were tested. Ninety-five participants (parents of 7th-11th graders) responded to a questionnaire designed following the suggestions of Ajzen (2006). Direct measures of intention and indirect measures of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control were included for each drug preventative practice. Results of the first model “Talk to Your Child about Drugs” showed that there were significant main effects for attitudes and subjective norms. The main effect of perceived control and the interactions were not significant. The main effects of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control were significant for the second model: “Monitor Your Child’s Friends and Activities.” The results also showed that perceived control moderated the attitude-intention relationship. Implications of these findings are discussed along with limitations and future research directions.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Wilson, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Individual & family studies|Health education

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