'Giving rope and pulling it back': Types and patterns of strategies used by parents to prevent adolescent substance (ab)use

This study contributes to the INC theory by adding the stage of prevention to the parent-child relationships' timeline. Ten parents (six mothers and four fathers) were interviewed, and a memory enhancing timeline calendar was used to encourage parents to recall and talk about when they were trying to prevent substance (ab)use. Prevention strategies were coded on the basis of Inconsistent Nurturing as Control (INC) theory. Nurturing strategies consisted of 1.) Promoting open discussions, 2.) Monitoring behavior and activities in respectful ways, and 3.) Presenting a model for responsible use. Punishing strategies consisted of 1.) Reinforcing discipline and rules, 2.) Forcing discussions, 3.) Reprimanding perceived deviant behavior. Results demonstrated that a prevention stage exists in the parent-child relationship in the context of adolescent substance (ab)use, and parents used both nurturing and control strategies for prevention.