Parental Influences on Adolescent Behavior: Role of Caregiver Behaviors and Alcohol Use in Socio-Vulnerable Brazilian Context

The quality of relationships with caregivers is a significant factor influencing adolescents’ mental health. This study investigated the role of caregiver behaviors, including parenting style, non-violent discipline, and parental alcohol use, in shaping adolescent externalizing, internalizing, and anti-social behaviors. Using data from a study encompassing 1610 adolescents and caregivers from 805 socio-vulnerable families in Brazil, we employed longitudinal univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses to elucidate parental predictive factors regarding adolescent behaviors. The results revealed that authoritative parenting, characterized by higher levels of monitoring and responsivity of parental skills, and non-violent discipline were protective factors against anti-social and externalizing behaviors, with authoritative parenting also mitigating internalizing behaviors. Additionally, girls exhibited a higher vulnerability to internalizing and externalizing behaviors. These findings underscore the significance of parental influence on adolescent well-being and advocate for targeted interventions promoting authoritative parenting and non-violent discipline to support positive developmental outcomes. Authoritative parenting and non-violent discipline were protective factors against adolescent externalizing and anti-social behaviors. Girls exhibited higher vulnerability to both internalizing and externalizing behaviors compared to boys. Non-violent discipline was associated with lower aggression and defiance, supporting its use in parenting interventions. Caregiver alcohol consumption did not show a significant direct effect, but parenting style played a crucial role in adolescent behavior. Findings support targeted interventions promoting authoritative parenting and non-violent discipline for socio-vulnerable families.