This article reports on an evaluation of a 2.5‐year prevention program that worked through parents in targeting drinking among 13–16‐year‐olds.
The participating schools were in inner-city, public-housing, and small-town areas. A total of 900 middle-school students and their parents were involved in this longitudinal study. Parents received information by mail and during parent meetings in the schools. They were urged to maintain strict attitudes against their children’s underage drinking and encouraging their children’s participation in adult-led, organized activities. Evaluation of the program’s implementation used measures of parental attitudes against underage drinking and youths' participation in adult-led organized activities. Measured outcomes were youths' drunkenness and delinquency. The program successfully influenced parents' attitudes against underage drinking, but not youths’ participation in adult-led organized activities. At post‐test, youths in the intervention group reported less drunkenness and delinquency. Effect sizes were 0.35 for drunkenness and 0.38 for delinquency. Findings were similar for boys and girls and for early starters. Effects were not moderated by community type. The implementation successfully influenced parents' attitudes against underage drinking, but not youth participation in organized activities. At post‐test, youths in the intervention group reported less drunkenness and delinquency. Effect sizes were 0.35 for drunkenness and 0.38 for delinquency. Findings were similar for boys and girls and for early starters. Effects were not moderated by community type. The implementation successfully influenced parents' attitudes against underage drinking, but not youth participation in organized activities. At post‐test, youths in the intervention group reported less drunkenness and delinquency. Effect sizes were 0.35 for drunkenness and 0.38 for delinquency. Findings were similar for boys and girls and for early starters. Effects were not moderated by community type. (publisher abstract modified)