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Addictive Behaviors

The Impact of Parent-Child Relationship Quality on Substance Use Among Emerging Adults from WEIRD and Non-WEIRD Countries

(PS1-51) The Impact of Parent-child Relationship Quality on Substance Use Among Emerging Adults from WEIRD and Non-weird Countries

Friday, November 15, 2024
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM EST
Location: Franklin Hall, Level 4, Marriott Downtown
Abstract Text: Poor parent-child relationship satisfaction among emerging adults has been associated with substance use in Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD, Henrich et al., 2010) societies (Ford et al., 2023; Schwartz et al., 2009). Few studies have examined outcomes related to parent-child relationship satisfaction in non-WEIRD countries (Jiang et al., 2017; Khaleque & Rohner, 2002). Further, evidence-based interventions have shown efficacy in reducing substance use among WEIRD individuals (Beadnell et. al., 2016; Hadland et. al., 2021). Despite advancements in cultural adaptations, non-WEIRD countries are often marginalized from therapeutic research leading to the generalization of interventions (Hendriks, et. al., 2018). Considering factors that influence substance use among people from WEIRD and non-WEIRD countries will enhance clinical practice. The current exploratory study seeks to understand how WEIRD status, cultural orientation (i.e., individualism, collectivism), and parent-child relationship satisfaction predict emerging adults’ substance use. The study suspects culture and parent-child relationship satisfaction will significantly relate to substance use. Participants included emerging adults (N= 3,523) across 94 countries. Multiple stepwise linear regression analyses conducted with SPSS 29.0 assessed independent variables of individualism, collectivism, paternal and maternal relationship satisfaction, and participant gender toward the dependent variable of substance use. Among participants from WEIRD countries, maternal relationship satisfaction related to substance use (B = –.088; p</span> = .046), while paternal relationship satisfaction did not. Parental relationship satisfaction did not relate to substance use in non-WEIRD countries. Women from WEIRD countries engaged in more substance use (B = 1.46, p = .041), whereas women from non-WEIRD countries engaged in less substance use (B = 1.46, p = .041). Considering the gender differences in substance use behaviors and different impacts from maternal and paternal relationship satisfaction, post-hoc path analysis was conducted with AMOS to determine the role of gender in the parent-child relationship. Among men and women, paternal relationship satisfaction was not a significant predictor of substance use. Among women, collectivism predicted lower substance use (β = -0.09, p = .005), whereas, among men, WEIRD status predicted lower substance use (β = -0.16, p = .005) (i.e., men from WEIRD countries engaged in lower substance use behaviors). Contradictory to previous research on individuals from WEIRD countries, parent-child relationship satisfaction does not seem to have a strong influence on substance use among emerging adults from non-WEIRD countries. Additionally, despite poor maternal relationship satisfaction relating to substance use, it does not seem to predict it. Considering the limited time within clinical practice, our results indicate less emphasis may be needed on a client’s parent-child relationship quality. Further, the differences between participant groups suggest research on the efficacy of interventions for individuals from non-WEIRD countries remains important for future research.