Parental Attitudes Before College Linked to Student Bingeโ Drinking, โขStudy Finds
New research โฃindicates a connection between parental attitudes towards alcohol and the likelihood of college โstudents engaging inโฃ bingeโ drinking,โ especially those who join fraternities orโฃ sororities. A study published inโ the journal Behavioral Sciences reveals that students prone to binge drinking frequently enough come from households with more lenient views on alcohol consumption.
Researchers surveyedโฃ both parents and students, focusing on drinking behaviors and attitudes, especially concerning binge drinking. โThe findings demonstrate that parents of students who โultimately join Greek life organizations – fraternities and sororities – โขexhibitedโค greater permissiveness regarding alcohol โuse before their children even began college.
“Previous research has established a link between parental approval of student drinking and increased alcohol use among college students,” explains Kristi Morrison, โthe lead author ofโข theโ study and a โPhD student inโ Washington State University’s prevention science program. โข”Our research delved โinto the relationship between parental approval and Greekโฃ affiliation, and we discovered that parents of students who join Greek organizations tend to be more โpermissive of bingeโฃ drinking even prior to their students’ arrival โคon campus.”
The study โฃhighlights โthe increased risk ofโข bingeโข drinking andโฃ it’s associated dangers – โincluding alcohol poisoning and blackouts – for โคstudents involved in Greek life. Understanding theseโค risk factors, โsuch as parental โคpermissiveness, is crucial for developing effective interventions.
To gather data, โฃMorrison and โher coauthors questioned parents โboth โฃbefore their children left forโ college and during their firstโ year, assessing their views on “heavy episodic drinking” – defined as four or more drinks โfor women and five orโข more for men in a singleโ occasion. Students were also asked to shareโ their perceptions of their parents’ attitudes.
“The initial transition to college represents a particularly vulnerable period,” notes Jennifer duckworth, a coauthor and assistant professor in WSU’s human development department.โฃ “Research like this can โassist universities โin pinpointing areas where โinterventions can be developed and implemented to mitigate โbinge drinking.”
The researchers suggest that parenting programs focused on establishing clear guidelines, supporting children’sโ decision-making, and openly โขdiscussing the risks of binge drinking โฃcould have a positive impact. They specifically cite โฃtheโ Letting Go and Staying Connected program, developed atโค WSU and now implemented at nine other Washington universities, as a โvaluable resource forโ parent education.
“Risk factors vary across different groups,” Duckworth emphasizes. “Parental permissiveness isโค a risk factor that canโค be relatively โขeasily addressed. It’s vital to help parents consider what it means to be less permissive regarding โalcohol use.โฃ when parents engage in conversations with their children about the dangers of binge drinking and set clear expectations, it can substantially influence their behavior. Parents continue to exert a powerful influence even after their children leave home.”
The study also cautions against โคwell-intentioned efforts to promote “safe”โ drinking, as these can โขinadvertently signal acceptance of โbinge โdrinking. Morrisonโค explains, “Parents might believe allowing teens to drink at home in โa controlled settingโฃ is safer, but it โcommunicates approval of alcohol use. Research consistently shows that students tend to drink lessโ when their parents are less approving of alcohol consumption.”
The research โteam included membersโ from WSU, the Innovia Foundation, and the University โofโ Washington.
Source: washington State University: https://news.wsu.edu/news/2025/12/03/before-the-party-starts-parental-attitudes-linked-to-college-binge-drinking/
