Overall, the pattern of associations indicates that parent-child relationship quality is associated with increased cigarette use and alcohol use in adolescence which is consistent with previous research showing that emotional distance and a non-supportive relationship between parent and child is associated with increased use of alcohol (Brody & Ge, 2001). Conversely, frequent and heavy use of cigarettes and alcohol also appears to disrupt the closeness of the parent-child relationship, particularly for on-time and late maturing adolescents. This finding may reflect an increase in the time adolescents spend away from the home with [substance-using] peers as well as the difficulties of managing a close parent-child relationship in the context of adolescent substance use.
