NCJ Number
211419
Date Published
September 2005
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This report presents the results of the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University’s (CASA's) 2005 back to school survey of teens and parents, which focused on substance abuse risk and protective factors for teens.
Abstract
Over the past 10 years, CASA's annual teen survey has consistently shown that the more often children have family dinners with parents, the less likely they are to smoke, drink, or use drugs. The focus of the 2005 back to school teen and parent survey was on the quality of family dinners, including whether the television was on and the type of discussions had. Data from 2005 indicate that 58 percent of teens are having dinner with their family at least five times a week, a substantial increase from 1998 data. Moreover, 52 percent of teens and 94 percent of parents who report having fewer than 3 family dinners a week also report desiring more frequent family dinners, indicating that barriers other than a lack of willingness are preventing family dinner gatherings. Other survey data indicate that teens who have two or fewer family dinners per week are more likely than teens who have five or more family dinners to try marijuana, to smoke tobacco, and to drink alcohol. In terms of quality, teens who report fewer than three family dinners a week are more likely to report having short family dinners with the television on and very little discussion. The frequency of family dinners also impacts family tension and stress: teens who have five or more family dinners pre week are likely to experience less tension and stress among family members than teens who dine with parents fewer than three times per week. The appendix presents the survey methodology. Figures, tables, appendixes