Analysis of 2,293 adolescents found that parent disapproval had a stronger direct effect on reducing marijuana use, while peer disapproval worked more through increasing youth risk perception, with similar patterns in states with and without medical marijuana legalization.
Parents, educators, and prevention specialists interested in reducing youth cannabis use
2,293 adolescents surveyed
What the researchers found
Parent disapproval had a stronger direct effect on reducing youth marijuana use, while peer disapproval had a stronger indirect effect working through increased risk perception. Both parent and peer disapproval increased youth risk perception of marijuana. The mechanisms were similar regardless of whether youth lived in states with medical marijuana legalization.
Why it matters
Understanding how social disapproval reduces youth cannabis use through different pathways can help design more effective prevention programs. The finding that these mechanisms work similarly regardless of legal status suggests that social influence remains potent even as laws change.
The numbers in context
2,293 adolescents aged 12-17; parent disapproval had stronger direct effect on use; peer disapproval had stronger indirect effect via risk perception; similar patterns in MML vs non-MML states
How the study worked
Cross-sectional analysis of the 2019 National Survey of Drug Use and Health, focusing on youth aged 12-17 (N=2,293). Used structural equation modeling and bias-corrected bootstrapping to test path models. Compared mediating mechanisms between youth in medical marijuana legalization (MML) states and non-MML states.
What this study cannot tell us
Cross-sectional design cannot establish temporal ordering of disapproval, risk perception, and use. Self-reported data from 12-17-year-olds may be subject to social desirability bias. MML states vary widely in their specific regulations and enforcement.
How to read the evidence
Large nationally representative sample with structural equation modeling, but cross-sectional design limits causal inference
When this study was published
2022 study
The bigger picture
As cannabis legalization expands, there is concern that reduced social disapproval will increase youth use. This study suggests that parental and peer attitudes still strongly shape youth behavior regardless of legal context, pointing to the importance of maintaining clear messaging from trusted social sources.
Questions still open
- Does recreational legalization (as opposed to medical) weaken these social influence pathways? How do parental attitudes evolve after legalization? Would longitudinal data show the same mechanisms over time?
Common questions
Does cannabis legalization make teens more likely to use?
Is parent or peer influence more important?
Read the original research
The influence of parent and peer disapproval on youth marijuana use mediated by youth risk perception: Focusing on the state comparison.
Drug and alcohol dependence, 240, 109641
Citation
Yang, Eunbyeor Sophie; Oh, Su-Kyung; Kim, Seohyun; Chung, Ick-Joong. (2022). The influence of parent and peer disapproval on youth marijuana use mediated by youth risk perception: Focusing on the state comparison.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 240, 109641. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109641
Explore the wider topic
- How to Talk to Your Teenager About Weed (Without Losing Them)
- My Kid's Friends Smoke Weed: A Parent's Guide
- I Smoke Weed But Don't Want My Kids To: Navigating the Hypocrisy
- Quitting Weed as a Parent: Why It Is the Hardest and Most Important Quit
- Quitting Weed as a Teen or Young Adult
- My Kid Is Smoking Weed: A Parent's Guide