A recent study published in Behavioral Sciences has found that parental attitudes toward heavy drinking play a significant role in shaping alcohol use among first-year college students, particularly those involved in fraternities and sororities.
The research surveyed 294 parent–student pairs at a large U.S. public university. Assessments took place during the spring of the students' senior year of high school and again one to two months into their first semester of college. The study adjusted for factors such as baseline drinking habits, gender, race, and first-generation status to focus on the effects of parental permissiveness and Greek affiliation.
Results showed that parents of students who joined Greek organizations were more permissive about heavy episodic drinking than parents of non-Greek students. This was true both during high school (mean score 1.53 vs. 1.24) and in college (mean score 1.78 vs. 1.28), with statistical significance (p < 0.001 for both). Students also perceived their parents as more accepting of heavy drinking if they were affiliated with Greek life.
The study reported that both Greek affiliation and perceived parental permissiveness were linked to higher alcohol use and increased rates of heavy episodic drinking among students (relative risks: 1.94 and 1.18 for general use; 2.32 and 1.49 for HED). According to the authors, "the interaction between Greek affiliation and perceived parental permissiveness significantly predicted general alcohol use frequency (β = –0.25, p = 0.013), but not HED frequency." The findings suggest that while parents’ attitudes matter, peer norms within fraternities and sororities often have a stronger influence on student behavior.
The survey also noted an increase in parental permissiveness during the transition into college for both parents (t = 2.68, p = 0.008) and students (t = 3.61, p < 0.001). However, there was only a weak correlation between what parents actually thought about drinking and what their children believed their parents thought (r = 0.21–0.27). This communication gap may present opportunities for interventions focused on clear messaging from parents regarding alcohol use.
The researchers concluded that "Greek-affiliated students often originate from families with pre-existing permissive alcohol attitudes," which can reinforce selection into social groups where drinking is common practice. They also found that perceived parental permissiveness remained a risk factor even after accounting for Greek membership status.
These findings point to the importance of targeted prevention efforts—especially those involving parent-based strategies—to address risky drinking behaviors among incoming college students.
