The present study extends previous investigations by examining gender-matching in the association between parent-child communication and adolescent substance use. The significant association between easy mother communication and smoking in sons only suggests that sons may benefit from easy mother communication as a protective factor against smoking. Similarly, the significant association between easy father communication and marijuana use in sons could indicate that sons may benefit from easy father communication as a protective factor against marijuana use. These observed gender-specific variations provide a rationale for researchers to consider the important role of gender-matching in examining how parent-child relationship might be linked to adolescent substance use outcomes in future investigations.
