Regular family dinners may help reduce substance use among teenagers through improved communication and parental involvement, according to new research published in a leading journal.
Regular family meals may play a significant role in discouraging substance use among teenagers, according to a recent study published in the Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment and Trauma. The research suggests that sharing meals as a family can help reduce the likelihood of adolescents engaging in alcohol, drug, and vaping use.
The study found a correlation between higher-quality family meals and lower rates of alcohol, cannabis, and e-cigarette use among teenagers. However, for those with more severe adverse childhood experiences, simply sharing meals did not provide the same protective benefits.
To reach these conclusions, researchers analyzed online survey data from 2,090 adolescents aged 12 to 17 and their parents across the United States. Participants were asked about the quality of their family meals, focusing on aspects such as communication, enjoyment, digital distractions, and logistical challenges.
Teenagers were also surveyed regarding their alcohol, vaping, and cannabis use over the previous six months. The researchers examined the effectiveness of family meals in relation to the levels of household stress and traumatic experiences reported by both parents and teens.
Rather than treating all adverse experiences uniformly, the research team weighted each factor based on its established links to substance use in previous studies. Among adolescents with lower levels of childhood adversity, higher-quality family meals were associated with a 22% to 34% reduction in reported substance use.
Margie Skeer, the study’s lead author and a professor at Tufts University, emphasized the importance of routine family connection. “These findings build on what we already knew about the value of family meals as a practical and widely accessible way to reduce the risk of adolescent substance use,” Skeer stated.
She explained that regular family dinners can create opportunities for consistent communication and parental involvement, which may help mitigate risky behaviors over time. However, the study also revealed that family meals offered limited benefits for adolescents who had experienced four or more adverse childhood experiences.
“While our research suggests that adolescents who have experienced more severe stressors may not see the same benefits from family meals, they may benefit from more targeted and trauma-informed approaches, such as mental health support and alternative forms of family engagement,” Skeer noted.
The researchers acknowledged potential limitations in their study, including its cross-sectional design, which prevents establishing a direct cause-and-effect relationship between family meals and substance use. Additionally, the reliance on online recruitment may limit the generalizability of the findings to all families.
Overall, the study highlights the potential of family dinners as a simple yet effective strategy for promoting healthier behaviors among teenagers, particularly in environments with lower levels of childhood adversity. As families navigate the challenges of modern life, the importance of shared meals and open communication remains a valuable tool in fostering resilience and reducing the risk of substance use.
These findings underscore the need for families to prioritize mealtime togetherness as a means of strengthening bonds and encouraging positive behaviors among adolescents, according to SWNS.