Because parent-child communication is an important interpersonal construct that is reflective of the parent-child relationship, it may serve as a protective factor that is especially relevant to female adolescent s(Razzino et al., 2004; Yeh, Chiang, & Huang, 2006). Choquet, Hassler, Morin, Falissard, and Chau (2008) found that parental control and parental emotional support were more strongly related to substance use outcomes in girls than in boys. Based on data from a longitudinal sample in Oregon, Tildesley and Andrews (2008) found that the effect of growth over time in parent alcohol use on growth in children’s intentions to use alcohol was mediated by parental monitoring/supervision in girls only. These studies point to the importance of gender in the association between parent-child communication and adolescent substance use.
