Chapter 9: Longitudinal Associations Between Parent–Child Closeness, Parental Knowledge, and Adolescent Risk Behaviors

Adolescent risk behaviors, such as illicit drug use, delinquency, and alcohol use, pose serious public health concerns with long-term consequences. Prior research highlights the protective role of parent–child closeness and perceived parental knowledge in reducing adolescents’ engagement in such behaviors. However, few studies examine the distinct contributions of both mothers and fathers or the potential indirect role of perceived parental knowledge. Using data from 3,078 families in the Future of Families and Child Well-being Study, the current study investigates whether mother–child and father–child closeness at age 9 are associated with adolescent risk behaviors at age 15 and whether these associations operate indirectly through perceived parental knowledge. Path analyses revealed that closer father–child relationships were directly associated with lower illicit drug use, and both mother–child and father–child closeness were associated with lower delinquency. Across all outcomes and for both mothers and fathers, there was a significant indirect path via perceived parental knowledge in the association between parent–child closeness and adolescent risk behaviors. These findings highlight the importance of fostering parent–child closeness for both mothers and fathers in shaping adolescents’ perceptions of parental involvement and their engagement in risk behaviors.