Most parents would like more information about how to talk to their teenager about Schoolies, according to preliminary results of a University of Queensland survey.
The Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research (CYSAR), in conjunction with the Parenting and Family Support Centre, is conducting the survey of Queensland parents about their attitudes towards Schoolies.
Researchers are interested in finding out parents’ key concerns about Schoolies, how they will prepare their teenager, whether they plan to give alcohol to their teen, as well as other topics.
More parents are needed to do the survey, and parents are encouraged to make use of this opportunity to have their say about Schoolies.
Associate Professor Adrian Kelly from UQ’s Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research (CYSAR) says that although the survey is still running, some interesting information is coming out.
“Preliminary results of the survey suggest that alcohol is a key source of concern for parents, but they don’t necessarily feel equipped to discuss this with their teenager," Associate Professor Kelly said.
"These discussions can be quite emotion-ridden for both the parent and the adolescent.”
Reasons for this may include:
• Schoolies’ plans being quite advanced by the time parents talk to their teenager, resulting in a number of competing pressures on the adolescent from peers and parents
• Parents who themselves started drinking when under-age may feel awkward about expecting their child to be abstinent
• Teenagers being faced with a number of risks that their parents didn’t have at the same age (such as the potential for IT-related exploitation if pictures are put on the internet or parties are advertised to the wrong people) and
• Schoolies may be the first time the teenager has been away from home without some form of adult supervision and it may be difficult for parents to communicate effectively on an issue that they find very worrying.
“Starting early with frank and open conversations with kids about alcohol use is important,” Associate Professor Kelly said.
“There are simple, practical strategies that parents can use before Schoolies is even being discussed.
"A program for parents called Project Shield has been developed by UQ to help parents talk to their kids about alcohol use from as early as 13 years of age.”
Project Shield is a National Health and Medical Research Council-funded project that offers parents free consultation with a registered psychologist to explore practical and positive strategies to address adolescent alcohol use and the risks involved.
• If parents would like to participate in Project Shield, they can contact Dayna Smith at the CYSAR on telephone: (07) 3346 4833 or email projectshield@uq.edu.au.
• If parents would like to have their say about Schoolies, they can comment at www.surveymonkey.com/s/schoolies
Media: Marlene McKendry – 0401 996847
