Despite the well-established inverse association between parent-child communication and adolescent substance use, gender-specific differences in this relationship have received limited attention. It is important to address this gap in research because recent trend analyses suggest that the gender gap in substance use outcomes such as smoking (Erguder, Soydal, Ugurlu, Cakir, & Warren, 2006; Hammond, 2009) and alcohol use (Keyes, Grant, & Hasin, 2008; Pritchard & Cox, 2007)is narrowing in younger cohorts. Amaro, Blake, Schwartz, and Flinchbaugh (2001), for example, demonstrated the relevance of gender for substance use prevention research by reviewing gender differences in risk factors for adolescent substance use, and recommended the development of substance use interventions that target female adolescents. Similarly, Kumpfer, Smith and Summerhays (2008) suggested that many existing substance use prevention programs are not sensitive to the specific needs of females. Thus, they recommended the development of gender-specific programs for females which focus on promoting family bonding, communication and supervision, as well as acknowledging the crucial roles of body image, depression and social assertiveness. Taken together, these findings indicate increasing recognition of the need to understand gender-specific factors associated with substance use.
