Is Parental Behaviour a Risk Factor for Substance Use and Violence among Indian Youth?

This study examines whether parental characteristics represents risk factor for substance use and violent activities among youth (15-24) in both setting i.e. within and outside family. Study uses a national sample of 13119 married and 25197 unmarried youth from Youth in India study (2006-07). Logistic regression results show that parents’ behavior plays role in determining youth’s behavior towards substance use and involvement in violence. Parent’s substance abuse increases twice the risk of substance abuse among youth. Similarly, witness of parental violence increases risk of all three factors of substance use, spousal violence and communal fights among by 1.3, 3.1 and 1.5 times respectively. Years of schooling is showing positive impact on lowering the risk for substance use and violent activities among them. Early life experiences such as age at cohabitation, work and premarital sexual behavior is also found to have influence on substance use and violence or may be supporting each other. Therefore, along with early life experiences and low socioeconomic status of parents it is also parental behavior which makes youth vulnerable towards substance abuse and violence.